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Talent Elementary principal details Safe Routes to School improvements
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Summary
Heather Lowe, principal of Talent Elementary in Talent, Oregon, outlined 2023 Safe Routes to School–guided changes including a relocated crosswalk, a new Schoolhouse Road crosswalk, parking-lot visibility work, speed bumps and signage, improved lighting, and a student-led walk audit supported by ODOT.
Heather Lowe, principal of Talent Elementary in Talent, Oregon, summarized recent safety and access improvements made under the school's 2023 Safe Routes to School plan, and credited a partnership with the City of Talent and support from the Oregon Department of Transportation for helping deliver the work.
"Through our partnership with Safe Routes to School, we've made some meaningful updates and improvements to our school and surrounding neighborhood walkways," Lowe said, describing a mix of infrastructure changes and community programs intended to make arrivals safer for students and families.
Lowe said the school and the city relocated the crosswalk between Talent Elementary and Talent Middle School to improve visibility for students crossing between campuses and added a new crosswalk on Schoolhouse Road to create a safer, more accessible walking and biking route from nearby neighborhoods.
Near the school's parking-lot exit, Lowe said staff removed overgrown bushes to increase sightlines for drivers and pedestrians. The school also installed speed bumps in the parking area and added updated signage, wayfinding arrows, and clearly defined curves to support safer traffic flow.
Lowe said the City of Talent partnered with the school to add improved lighting aimed at speeding vehicles and darker stretches near the campus.
Beyond physical changes, Lowe described efforts to build a culture of active transportation. The school has held "walk enroll" days to encourage walking and biking, and families and students took part in a Safe Routes Walk Audit to identify safe pathways and collect real-time data during arrival.
Lowe framed the work as part of a broader effort to strengthen community connections and said safer arrivals help students "come ready to learn." She closed by thanking the community and ODOT for their support and said the school looks forward to continuing the work with Safe Routes to School.
No formal policy decisions, motions, or votes were recorded in the presentation.
