Matching Funds Needed For Sidewalks Near Schools

More than half a million dollars may become available to build sidewalks near Valley schools bordered by busy streets.

There is a catch, though.

Matching money must be found for the sidewalk construction to become reality.

There are actually two sources of money, both coming through the state. One source, considered still a preliminary source by state employees, is Exxon oil rebate money being administered by the Department of Transportation. Distribution of this money also depends on approval by the Attorney General’s Office and on schools finding 50-50 matches.

The other source for sidewalk money is so-called hazardous walkway money, which the Legislature reconfigured last year. That money can be used as local seed money for sidewalk construction.

“It means people are going to have to be real innovative, to make sure eligibilities are there to mix and match funds,” said Glenn Miles, a Central Valley parent and transportation manager of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council.

Administration officials in Central and West Valley schools hadn’t heard of the Exxon money.

But applications on file with the Department of Transportation show a total of $630,000 earmarked for Valley schools. All these applications have preliminary approval, said Larry Roediger, Department of Transportation. The dollar figures given are the amount requested in Exxon money; the other half of the money must still be supplied:

Greenacres Elementary, $60,000.

East Valley High School, Mountain View Middle School and Otis Orchards Elementary, $90,000.

Pasadena Park Elementary, $40,000.

East Valley High School, East Valley Middle School and Trentwood Elementary, $80,000.

East Valley High School, East Valley Middle School, Trentwood and Skyview elementary schools, $135,000.

McDonald Elementary School, Evergreen Junior High, Adams and Sunrise elementary school, $225,000.

“I drove by Adams (Elementary School) to a softball game last night,” Miles said, “and I said to myself. Look at that, there isn’t a sidewalk to be found.”

, DataTimes