Safe Routes to School 2025 Project

Safe Routes to School 2025 | South San Francisco

Project Highlights

  • $4.9M grant awarded from the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (2024 Cycle 7 Pedestrian and Bicycle Program)
  • Upgrading over 120 traffic calming and active transportation features installed over four school areas:
    • Parkway Heights Middle School
    • Alta Loma Middle School
    • Buri Buri Elementary
    • Ponderosa Elementary
  • Construction timeline: Summer 2025 to early 2026

Background

The City of South San Francisco is making it safer and easier for students to walk and bike to school through the Safe Routes to School 2025 Project. This effort focuses on four local schools:

  • Parkway Heights Middle School
  • Alta Loma Middle School
  • Buri Buri Elementary
  • Ponderosa Elementary

The City partnered with the San Mateo County Office of Education to conduct walk audits—community walks that helped identify safety issues and brainstorm solutions with school staff, City staff, and consulting transportation planners. The project was awarded $4.9 million in competitive grant funding from the San Mateo County Transportation Authority under the 2024 Cycle 7 Pedestrian and Bicycle Program. The City has also dedicated $500,000 in local funds to support the improvements.

Walk Audit Reports

Walk audits involved school staff, parents, engineers, and community members observing real travel conditions. The findings shaped specific recommendations for sidewalks, bike lanes, and safer crossings.

Explore the reports:

Project Scope

Parkway Heights Middle School Area

  • Widen sidewalks
  • Add curb extensions and corner islands
  • Install new curb ramps and crosswalks
  • Build protected (Class IV) bike lanes
  • Add speed humps and hardened centerlines

Alta Loma Middle & Buri Buri Elementary

  • Improve or add sidewalks
  • Install mini roundabouts and curb extensions
  • Raise crosswalks for visibility
  • Implement traffic-calming features

Ponderosa Elementary

  • Add curb extensions and corner islands
  • Bright, high-visibility crosswalks
  • Speed humps and hardened centerlines

Public Outreach

We’re committed to keeping the community informed as the project progresses into the design phase. We will:

  • Send mailers to nearby property owners
  • Share updates through schools via newsletters and flyers
  • Install temporary “demonstration” features (e.g., curb extensions, painted crosswalks) to gather community feedback. The example below shows a demonstration of a neighborhood traffic circle in East Palo Alto (upper photo), illustrating how a permanent improvement could function (lower photo).

    EPA_traffic-circle.png

    permanent_traffic-circle.png

No formal survey is planned, but we welcome public input online, by phone, or in person. Your feedback will help shape a design that benefits the whole community.

Construction Plan

We expect most improvements to be complete by early 2026. Some quick-build upgrades may begin during Summer 2025.

During construction:

  • Work will occur outside rush hours
  • Expect parking restrictions near work zones
  • Temporary pedestrian detours and some lane closures may occur
  • Flaggers and signs will guide traffic where needed

Please be cautious and follow posted directions for everyone’s safety.

Map of Planned Improvements

(Coming soon)

Contact Us

Project Manager:
John Wilson
john.wilson@ssf.net
(408) 866-2150

Construction Hotline:
(650) 829-4600

© 2025 City of South San Francisco | Safe Routes to School Program
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Contact details

Construction Hotline
(650) 829-4600