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West Linn council discusses Safe Routes to School work for Sunset Elementary, funding gap and possible short‑term fixes
Summary
Councilors heard a detailed Safe Routes to School presentation focused on Sunset Elementary: a 2019 study identified 17 Sunset projects (15 sidewalks) and estimated district‑wide needs of $14.4M in 2019 dollars; the city has about $500,000 left from earlier bond allocations and staff will collect more data and return with recommendations.
City staff and school‑district and police representatives briefed the West Linn City Council on Nov. 4 about Safe Routes to School work centered on Sunset Elementary, reviewing priorities, funding shortfalls and possible short‑term safety measures.
Eric (city staff) said a 2019 evaluation by consultant DKS identified 59 Safe Routes projects district‑wide totaling about $14.4 million in 2019 dollars; the Sunset area alone had 17 projects (15 sidewalk projects and two sign/striping projects). "Out of that study, 59 projects were identified between the 6 West Linn schools...It totaled 14,400,000.0 in projects," Eric said. Staff said completed projects and development contributions have used about $1.2 million to date, leaving roughly $500,000 of the Safe Routes allocation available.
Jeremy Nichols, the school district’s safety and transportation supervisor, said walking boundaries determine where students are provided bus service and noted walking boundaries were reassessed before the 2023–24 school year. He said bus stops exist in neighborhoods south of Sunset and west of Cornwall but parents at a recent neighborhood meeting asked for crosswalks and sidewalk connections because children must cross busy streets.
Staff outlined priority projects that include sidewalks on Cornwall from Sunset to Oxford and Summit from Ridge Lane to Oxford, and a Bittner‑Long sidewalk design that is about 50 percent complete in design. Eric cautioned that crosswalks without ADA ramps or a destination on the far side are not best practice and that treatments such as rectangular rapid‑flashing beacons cost substantially more once engineered and constructed.
On funding, Eric reviewed the city’s 2018 voter‑approved general obligation bond of $20 million, which initially authorized $1 million for Safe Routes projects; the council later authorized additional funds in March 2022 for a total of $1,745,000 allocated to Safe Routes. Staff said the 2019 cost estimates should be inflated to current dollars and that the city is exploring grant opportunities and other revenue models—including a sidewalk fee program used in other cities—to create a steadier funding source.
Councilors asked staff to arrange more data collection and a consultant study of traffic volumes, turning movements and pedestrian crossings; staff agreed and said results would be shared when available. The council also directed staff to ask the Transportation Advisory Board and the budget committee to explore long‑term funding strategies, and to coordinate outreach with the Sunset neighborhood association.
