National City looking to give kids safe route to school

NATIONAL CITY (CNS) – National City officials Thursday unveiled an $1.8 million package of improvements designed to improve student safety along an eight-block stretch near Kimball Elementary School. 

The upgrades to Coolidge Avenue and West 18th Street included widening sidewalks and adding a half-mile of new bike lanes, pedestrian curb ramps and measures to slow traffic, according to city officials. New signage, lighting and landscaping were also added.

“As an older, dense and metropolitan community it is imperative to have our community as walkable and our routes to our schools as safe and convenient as possible,” National City Mayor Ron Morrison said. “This is just one more example of our community rising to the task.”

Students, parents, school staff and community members tested the improved route as they walked to Kimball Elementary School along Coolidge Avenue. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony in the plaza in front of the nearly 400-student campus followed.

Officials said the improvements were the product of a joint effort between the city, the National School District, Kimball Elementary School and neighborhood residents.

City officials said the improvements were funded using money from the Federal Safe Routes to School Grant, the San Diego Association of Governments and local TransNet and gas tax funds.