Saratoga nationally recognized for school zone improvements

Saratoga Elementary and the City of Lincoln received national accolades for their partnership to improve school zone safety around the school. 

The National Center for Safe Routes to School presented the city with the U.S. Vision Zero for Youth Leadership Award at Saratoga on March 28. The award honors communities that excel in youth pedestrian and cycling safety.

“We are honored to recognize the accomplishments of the City of Lincoln and hope the impact of the city and its partners’ efforts on behalf of children’s pedestrian safety will continue to grow in the years ahead,” the center’s director Nancy Pullen-Seufert said.

Saratoga’s School Neighborhood Advisory Committee (SNAC) was a crucial voice for these changes. 

“The School Neighborhood Advisory Committee worked together to elevate concerns and provide solutions,” Saratoga Principal Marci Imel said. “This committee brought together families, staff, neighbors, businesses, city leaders, and agencies to have difficult conversations – keeping the focus on student safety and inspiring action to make much needed changes."

“They took our concerns and suggestions and came up with several actionable items to increase safety in the area,” Elisha Mackling said. Mackling is a SNAC member and mother of three Saratoga students.  “I think the changes that were made around Saratoga are good ones. We hope this award can bring some awareness to Lincoln drivers for the need to slow down and put down their distractions, especially when they are in the vicinity of a school zone.”

After collaborating with Saratoga’s SNAC, Lincoln’s Transportation and Utilities Department made the following safety enhancements near the elementary school: 

• Installation of curb ramps and an additional crosswalk

• Reduced speed limits in certain areas

• New traffic control devices, signage, and pavement markings to keep vehicles in their designated lane, out of the bike lane, and aware of lower speeds

• Shortened pedestrian crossing distance to minimize the amount of time students are in the street

• Addition of a school zone flasher to alert vehicles that they are entering a school zone

• Extension of a bike lane to the school

“Making sure Lincoln's littlest residents can safely walk, bike, or ride to school is a priority we all share,” said Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. 

Lincoln is the fifth city in the country to receive the Youth Leadership Award.

 

---