PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia is getting $25 million in federal funds to improve pedestrian safety around six schools in North Philadelphia.
Cars squeezed past in the crazy mish-mash of streets around Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School Friday as officials gathered on the lawn to announce it is one of the six schools that will get speed bumps, raised crosswalks, curb extensions, signs and other measures as part of the North Philadelphia School Zone Traffic Safety Project.
They hope it will bring some order to students’ walk to and from school.
“If we want our students to learn, thrive and succeed, we must ensure they are safe and physically and emotionally healthy,” said Philadelphia School Board President Ronald Streater. “This includes providing safe pathways to and from schools.”
Superintendent Tony Watlington said safety is the district’s number one priority.
“We’re so excited about this opportunity to continue to protect our young people.”
The program is based on the city’s neighborhood slow zone program, which invites extended community engagement in the design, so it will likely take several months to draw up plans. Officials don’t expect work to start until 2026.
Related
The other schools included in the grant are Julia De Burgos Elementary, Potter-Thomas, Kenderton Elementary, Pan American Charter and KIPP Philadelphia.
Bethune Principal Aliya Catanch-Bradley added the improvements are greatly needed.
“Last year, we had two scholars that were hit by a car as they were trying to leave our school safely to get back to their homes, so we know how important this grant will be.”
Between 2017 and 2021 there were 418 crashes around the schools, three of them fatal, according to Mayor Jim Kenney.
“Students should be focused on learning and growing in the classroom, not worrying about crossing the street safely,” Kenney said.
Related
