Klamath Falls council authorizes Safe Routes to School grant application for sidewalks near Ponderosa Middle School
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Summary
The council authorized staff to submit and, if offered, accept a Safe Routes to School construction grant to install sidewalks from Main Street up Laguna Drive and on Old Fort Road to Loma Linda; staff estimated the grant at $2.0–2.1 million with a 10.27% local match (~$239,000).
The Klamath Falls City Council voted Feb. 2 to authorize staff to submit a Safe Routes to School construction grant application for sidewalks adjacent to Ponderosa Middle School.
Public Works Director Mark Boyle Wright told the council the project would extend sidewalks on Laguna Drive from Main Street to Old Fort Road and continue up Old Fort Road to Loma Linda Drive. He said the anticipated construction grant would be roughly $2.0 million to $2.1 million and that the city’s required match would be about 10.27 percent, roughly $239,000.
Councilors raised whether the school district had been consulted and whether sidewalk investment made sense if Ponderosa were to relocate. Boyle Wright said staff had engaged the district earlier and argued the sidewalks would still serve significant pedestrian traffic, including residents pushing strollers and daily walkers.
"We scored pretty high in the planning side, so I'm kinda hoping that that same luck will follow through with the construction side as well," Boyle Wright said during his presentation.
The council moved to authorize staff to submit the construction grant application and to accept the grant if offered; the motion passed by voice vote.
Why it matters: The project aims to improve pedestrian safety for students and residents near a middle school that councilors described as having constrained egress and hazardous crossing points. If funded, construction would require the local match and further design and procurement steps.
Next steps: Staff will prepare and submit the construction grant application in the next SRTS funding round; if the grant is offered the council authorized staff to accept it and proceed with procurement and design work.