The city is seeking public input on a series of proposed crosswalk improvements at intersections along West G St.
The city along with the Elizabethton City Schools will host a public meeting today at 5 p.m. in the cafeteria at West Side Elementary.
Director of Planning and Development Jon Hartman said the meeting would give people a chance to discuss proposed improvements for three crosswalks along West G Street ­— one each at the intersections of South Roan Street, Holly Lane and Hunter Avenue.
“The proposed crosswalk improvements will help increase safety for pedestrians crossing the street and are targeted at schoolage children attending West Side Elementary School and T.A. Dugger Middle School,” Hartman said.
The crosswalk improvements will be funded by a grant through the Safe Routes to School program that the ECS is pursuing.
ECS Director of Coordinated School Health Regina Wilder has been working to secure an application for the grant.
If acquired, the funding would provide for sidewalk and crosswalk improvements and would add new signs, some possibly with flashing lights, to warn drivers to look out for pedestrians.
“This is about increasing safety measures for students who have to cross those difficult streets,” Wilder said.
The grant would require also that 10 percent of received funds be used for noninfrastructure activities, such as safety education, parent surveys and programs to encourage children to participate in more physical activities, such as walking or biking to school.
Safe Routes to School is a federally funded program focusing on the benefits of children walking and biking to school. Its programs aim to improve safety for children and the community and provide opportunities to increase physical activity.
Wilder noted this is the last year the grant would be awarded without requiring any matching funds from the recipient.