City of Tacoma
School Safety
S 40th St and M St
TIB Award Amount
$292,664
Region: Puget Sound   |   Legislative District: 27   |   Length: 150.00 ft. FY 2024 Urban Active Transportation Program (ATP)

Existing Conditions

This project improves access to schools, the multicultural Lincoln Business District, and areas of Low and Very Low Opportunity (Tacoma Equity Index). The Whitman Elementary school zone crossing is located on M St, which is a 30 MPH collector arterial where cars and commercial vehicles park near the intersection. The bike boulevard crossing near Lincoln High School is located on a 2-way stop control intersection that had 6 vehicle-vehicle crashes in the past 3 years. The bike route connects the S 37th St I-5 Pedestrian Crossing and Pierce Transit Route 1 future BRT. Both project locations and proposed improvements are related to the Citys Safe Routes to School Action Plan Equity Needs Analysis that helps to address historic disparities. High equity needs schools are those with higher rates of students eligible for free and reduced price lunch programs, those with higher proportions of students of color, and have a higher number of youth crashes within a 1 mile radius.

Project Funding

  TIB Funds Local Funds Total Costs
Design 0 0 0
Right of Way 0 0 0
Construction 292,664 102,746 395,410
Project Totals $292,664 $102,746 $395,410

Local Match

TIB Participation Local Match Minimum Local Match
74.0% 26.0% 20%

Summary of Improvements

  • Improves pedestrian safety;
  • Completes gap;
  • Removes ADA barriers

Description of Improvements

The infrastructure improvements on M St and on Tacoma Ave will improve pedestrian, bicycle, and student safety by calming traffic, improving visibility, and minimizing conflicts with cars. This will be accomplished on M Street though curb bulbs, Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons, and compliant curb ramps; and on Tacoma Ave with a traffic circle that supports the bike boulevard on S 37th St. Other City funded Safe Routes to School infrastructure improvements on neighboring streets and encouragement/education activities in the schools will complement these improvements.