SOUTH COUNTY — A total of $786,010 in federal funding is headed to Lake County for projects providing safe travel to and from schools.
Students in Konocti Unified School District will ultimately benefit from the funds, which were awarded through the Caltrans Safe Route to School program.
The federal Safe Route to School program is aimed at providing students in kindergarten through eighth grade easier and healthier ways to safely travel to and from school.
The City of Clearlake will receive funds for improvements on Dam Road while the County of Lake will receive funds for improvements on State Route 20 in Clearlake Oaks.
According to an announcement released by Caltrans District 1, the City of Clearlake will receive $311,530 to close a half-mile gap in a bike on Dam Road.
A section of Dam Road, which is in poor condition will also be rebuilt and widened to accommodate the new bike lane.
These improvements will benefit students attending Lower Lake Elementary School, Oak Hill Middle School, Lower Lake High School, Blue Heron School and W.C. Carl? Continuation High School.
The County of Lake will receive $474,480 to provide sidewalks and bulb-outs in Clearlake Oaks. Caltrans describes bulb-outs as rounded sidewalk extensions, which protrude into an intersection.
The bulb-outs are meant to shorten the distance needed to cross a roadway and reportedly have a tendency to slow down traffic.
The county project will also include the installation of crosswalks along sections of State Route 20. These improvements will benefit students attending East Lake Elementary School.
According to Phil Frisbie, Jr., Caltrans District 1 public information officer, Safe Routes for Schools funds are awarded through a very competitive process. “The applicants have to justify a need for the money and show a high amount of cooperation within the community,” he said.
City Engineer Bob Galusha and Grants Technician Adeline Brown reportedly prepared the application for the City of Clearlake. Administrative Analyst Doug Willardson prepared the application for the county.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
