Engineer Patrick Connor said he heard some important suggestions at the joint work session Wednesday night between the Soldotna City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission for the Safe Routes to School Draft Plan.
Connor: “There were a couple things that were brought up that weren’t necessarily new to me but definitely things that we hadn’t considered as seriously as the public or the commission thought so those were good to hear and have those brought up.”
The Safe Routes to School plan will be finalized by May, in time to apply for the next grants cycle.
Connor added that by just having a plan in place opens up opportunities for other funding to get the projects rolling.
Connor: “Just by having the plan it opens up to other sources of funding so whether its Federal Highways or just state appropriations or something they like it when you have a plan in place that says hey this plan has recommended this and if it jives with other plans you have, so multiple plans say the same thing it just goes a lot further towards actually getting funding.”
One top priority suggested by both community members and the commission included a pedestrian path along the Sterling Highway up to Skyview which will be Skyview Middle School as of next year.
Director of Economic Development and Planning Stephanie Queen said that suggestion has been heard repeatedly for various projects and thinks it is a top priority.
Another top priority was brought up by Planning and Zoning Chair Colleen Denbrock, who said that not everyone abides to the proposed flashing signs and crosswalks.
Denbrock: “Just go to an intersection when the schools are getting out and I feel like I want to block my car accross there because those kids can stand on those sidewalks, and its marked and the cars just keep going and don’t let the kids cross and so I want our kids educated about that but I also want our adults.”
