TIB Project Information

The project serves the needs of student pedestrians in the Franklin Pierce School District attending Ford Middle School and Franklin Pierce High School. As of 2022 there were 228 students attending Ford who do not have access to bus transportation, and 392 students at Franklin Pierce. To access Ford Middle School students must walk along 104th Street East which consists of gravel shoulders and short, intermittent sections of sidewalk. Franklin Pierce High School students can travel the same route and make the connection to their campus via Portland Avenue East or a pedestrian/maintenance access bridge overcrossing SR 512. Over the past three years the state of Washington has recorded 12 crashes within the proposed project limits, including one incident where 2 pedestrians were injured. The community has a need to ensure that this walking path has appropriate facilities for students.

• Pierce County has developed the 2025 Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) plan in partnership with the Franklin Pierce School District. The SRTS plan prioritizes non-motorized needs for all Franklin Pierce school zones. The corridor along 104th St. E. and Portland Ave. E. from Golden Given Rd. E. to the SR 512 overcrossing is ranked at the top of that list. In response to the SRTS plan, Pierce County has funded a project to provide sidewalks, paved shoulders, and crossing facilities on the south side of 104th St. E. from Golden Given Rd. E. to 16th Ave. E. (see Pierce County Road Project 5939). This grant application will fund a second, adjacent project that provides sidewalk on the south side and paved shoulders from 16th Ave. E. to Portland Ave. E. (see Pierce County Road Project 5969). In accordance with the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan, the new facility will decrease the level of traffic stress by one step (see Table 12-N in the Comprehensive Plan). Complete streets elements include curb, gutter, sidewalk, and paved shoulders.