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The Ada County Highway District wants to encourage and enable more children to walk
or bike to school. ACHD has worked with every school district in Ada County to make
safe routes to school improvements. ACHD has also assisted private schools. As part
of that outreach, the District has evaluated areas around schools with school officials
to help identify routes.
ACHD has installed a variety of features over the years to make it safer to walk
to school. Those improvements include school speed zone flashing beacons,
paths and sidewalks as well as raised curbs, which provide a physical separation
between pedestrians, bikes and motorists.
- 4th, School to Linder
- School crossing improvements countywide
- Hill, Maplewood to Collister
- Linder, Sawtooth Middle to Monument
- Floating Feather, Thunderbird to Seven Oaks
- McMillan and Red Horse
- Linder, Kenter to 2nd
- Linder Crossing at Stone Valley
- Linder Crossing at Tulley Park
Click here to see a full list that includes
future projects.
Educating children and parents about safe routes and walking and biking safety is
another part of the safe routes to school effort. ACHD offers educational assemblies
for schools on request.
Safety Buttons are available to school age children for free. The buttons blink
and reflect, making children more visible. For a free Safety Button or for information
on assemblies call 387-6100 or email
tellus@achdidaho.org.
ACHD offers help to parents and children who are looking for a safe route to school.
You can request a personalized map and route by contacting Bryan Huey at 387-6147,
or email him at
bhuey@achdidaho.org.
A local effort:
ACHD devotes local funds and resources to provide safe
routes to school in Ada County. ACHD’s efforts go above and beyond the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA)’s Safe Routes to School Program, which makes federal funding
available through grants. ACHD applies for federal grants, but has historically
been a leader in locally funded safe routes to school improvements.
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ACHD has constructed many safe routes to school improvements near Washington Elementary
in Boise, including a pedestrian signal in front of the school, school speed zone
flashing beacons, curb extensions, as well as four-way stops.
Improved crosswalks: 150 crosswalks at school and pedestrian
crossing locations throughout the county are now marked with a special thermal plastic
tape. The plastic is placed in wide strips similar to a ladder and in addition to
being more visible, lasts longer than crosswalks marked in paint. ACHD devoted $140,000
to these safety improvements.
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