Description
People speed in this location, and it's a main walkway for many residents and children going to school on this block. Please put in a well marked crosswalk!
also asked...
Q. Address for location of speed study
A. 9th and Ainsworth
A. 9th and Ainsworth
7 Comments
Tacoma, WA (Verified Official)
Acknowledged PW_LMacClellan (Verified Official)
Thank you for writing in.
This intersection is located on a suggested Safe Route to School walking route; however, the local elementary school is under construction and the students are attending a different location until construction is complete.
According to the Tacoma School District website, pedestrian safety improvements along Ainsworth are also part of the project but I will forward this request to the City's Safe Routes to School coordinator to verify what work is included as part of the project.
PW_LMacClellan (Verified Official)
By state law (RCW 46.04.160), all intersections are legal crosswalks (unless specifically prohibited), whether it is marked or not.
A marked crosswalk at an intersection indicates a preferred crossing area. Mid-block crossings are always marked.
PW_LMacClellan (Verified Official)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
PW_LMacClellan (Verified Official)
When you say "well-marked", do you mean an RRFB? These are the pedestrian activated flashing beacons. The city's Safe Routes To School coordinator will be able to verify the type and extent of pedestrian improvements included as part of the school's reconstruction. She will be back in office next week.
Signs, marked crosswalks, RRFBs, etc. serve to alert a driver of a changed condition in the driving environment but only the driver controls the vehicle. RRFBs (for example) are very effective at alerting drivers that someone wants to cross at that location, but only the driver makes the decision to slow down and stop.
Speed enforcement is handled by the Community Policing Division (CPD) of Tacoma Police Department. (This request was routed to Public Works Transportation.) The CPD have asked me that city residents can request a speed patrol by calling the Tacoma non-emergency number of 253-287-4455. (If you witness in progress crimes and incidents, including street racing, drifting, doughnuts, please call 911.)
I've sent an email requesting a speed patrol to the Community Liason Officers assigned to this area, but I encourage you to call the non-emergency number as well.
PW_CHenley (Verified Official)
Hello Tacoma neighbor and safety advocate,
Thank you so much for sharing your concern about the crossing conditions at S 9th and Ainsworth and advocating for safety improvements. As you noted, many students cross here, given this is a dedicated school crossing for Bryant Montessori. We have identified this crossing as one, among many, in need of future improvements when funding is available. Enhancing this crossing would require redoing all the curb ramps, installing RRFBs (the bright yellow flashing lights when a pedestrian pushes a button), and potentially narrowing the crossing distance. This intersection was included in our Safe Streets for All Federal grant application. We unfortunately did not receive funding for this specific grant, but did win funding for another effort.
Regarding to the Safe Routes to School program, we prioritize school safety improvements based on safety and equity data. The 2023 Safe Routes to School Action plan shows the school prioritization list based on this need, and explains how the prioritization was calculated. This is available online on page 21 of the plan, linked here: https://www.cityoftacoma.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_6/File/cms/PublicWorks/SafeRoutes/TacomaSRTS_ActionPlan2023_FINAL.pdf
Bryant is ranked 39 out of 55 TPS sites. This is based on the safety factors of the streets surrounding Bryant and within it's walk zone, along with the school's equity data. We are working hard to make improvements at school crossings across the city, working through the school prioritization list. With additional funding, we can make improvements at more schools faster. The schools with projects underway and those completed are available at: www.cityoftacoma.org/srts-engineering
The more funding the Safe Routes to School, Active Transportation, and Vision Zero programs can receive from City Council, the more we can leverage those dollars for construction - both directly to projects and leveraged for construction grants. Thanks to the current Streets Initiative, the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program has been able to bring nearly $4 in grant funding for every $1 of Streets Initiative funding allocated to the SRTS program. Later this year, City Council will be allocating the 2025-2026 biennium budget. If you feel comfortable, I encourage you to email your council members about your priorities - where you wish to see them allocate budget to grow the community you want to see in Tacoma. You can find your City Council contacts at: www.cityoftacoma.org/citycouncil
Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Again, I appreciate your dedication to the safety of people getting around Tacoma.
Best,
Cailin Henley
Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Transportation Planner
Department of Public Works | Transportation Division