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Centennial expands Safe Routes to School program with grants, events and planned sidewalk project
Summary
District staff and partners reported new grants, donations and education programs supporting active travel to school. Highlights include donated bikes, helmet distributions, walking school buses and planned Tier 2 sidewalk construction around Southeast 174th slated in coordination with Peabot for 2027.
Centennial School District and Safe Routes partners told the school board on May 13 that a cluster of recent grants, community partnerships and events have accelerated active‑travel safety work.
Neil O’Donnell, the district’s safety and security coordinator, reviewed accomplishments tied to the program: a hotel donation of 70 bicycles for Meadows Elementary, two $5,000 grants (one Metro grant and one ODOT grant) for helmets and reflectors, pedestrian education integrated into PE and music classes, and partnerships that created walking school buses at four schools. O’Donnell said the district has delivered 60 pedestrian safety classes through Bike Works and used novel venues — such as a "seafood to school" event that paired culinary instruction with locally sourced ingredients — to build engagement.
Janice McDonald, Portland’s Safe Routes to School manager, and Ian Ree (district coordinator) described a widening network of partners — including ODOT, Metro, Multnomah County and local nonprofits — and noted infrastructure steps taken so far, such as speed cushions on SE 174th Avenue near Palut Elementary. O’Donnell said Peabot is slated to begin a multi‑modal sidewalk project around SE 174th in 2027; the district intends to use a Tier 2 Safe Routes grant to support related education and drop‑off adjustments during construction.
Board members asked about volunteer recruitment for walking school buses, logistics for construction zones, and how the district measures attendance impact; partners cited evidence from other local schools that walking‑bus programs can boost attendance and said the district will pilot student walk audits at Oliver Middle School to collect neighborhood‑level data.
Ending: Staff will share a PDF of proposed infrastructure projects after the meeting and continue coordinating with city and county partners ahead of 2027 construction work.
