The City of Lyons has been awarded a $1.52 million state grant to improve pedestrian safety at Mari-Linn Elementary School.
The awards were announced Jan. 12 by the Oregon Department of Transportation as part of its regular Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) program, which saw a total of $32.4 million awarded for 26 projects this funding cycle.
The city submitted its application in August and was among 83 applications reviewed by the Safe Routes Advisory Committee in November. SRTS Program Manager LeeAnne Fergason said all applications were “outstanding” and, when narrowing down applications, the committee prioritized low-income areas and schools with serious safety concerns.
“So our Safe Routes Advisory Committee worked very hard to review and rank the proposals,” said Fergason in a Jan. 12 press release from ODOT.
Lyons plans to complete a sidewalk in front of the school and move current sidewalks closer to the building. They also plan to construct a crosswalk outside the school.
The city will be required to provide matching funds of $304,000 to use the grant. Improvements must be completed within five years.
