Plan to Ensure Safer School Routes Studied

New traffic signs and maps indicating the safest routes to 20 elementary schools will be considered by the City Council on Monday as part of a state program to improve campus safety.

A $150,000 grant from Caltrans will allow Santa Ana to survey school routes and ensure that traffic signs and an additional 14 crosswalks comply with state and federal and standards.

City Engineer George Alvarez said a survey is needed every five years because traffic laws and street conditions constantly change.

For example, the city must ensure that crosswalk signs are the proper distance from the crosswalks.

On Monday, the city will consider spending as much as $66,500 in grant money to study traffic. The rest would be used to pay for new signs and other improvements, city engineers said.

Maps to steer students away from heavy traffic would be distributed by the end of September.

The crosswalk and sign study also would be completed in September. New signs and crosswalks would be installed by October.

Officials will consult with school principals, Alvarez said, but the city is responsible for streets and signs.

The City Council will meet at 6 p.m. at 22 Civic Center Plaza.

Information: (714) 647-6520.