CITY BRIEFS

More money for Safe Routes to School

The Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening gave preliminary approval to adding almost $20,000 to a design contract for sign improvements on the streets outside Evergreen Elementary School and Shelton High School.

The council can make the move official with a second vote at its Jan. 16 meeting.

The council is working to help students at Shelton High School and Evergreen Elementary School with three projects through a state program called Safe Routes to School. In July 2021, the city was awarded $770,103 in competition for state funding. The grant money is for design and construction, and the city was required to make a 13.5% match in money.

The city will use the grants for crosswalks and other improvements on Shelton Springs Road at Shelton High School and the Huff'n'Puff Trail; Seventh and Franklin streets, across the street from Evergreen Elementary School; and two blocks away near Safeway, at Ninth and Franklin streets.

According to the city report, most of the project areas need some sign replacements and additional signs.

The staff have proceeded with the design for the project, which is nearing completion, and the project goes out for bid this month. An additional $19,970 is needed for the consultant, RH2 Engineering, to evaluate the existing road signs. That brings the maximum design contract from $102,728 to $121,922 if approved Jan. 16.

The proposed upgrades on Shelton Springs Road in front of Shelton High School include a pedestrian "refuge island" in the middle of the crosswalk, Americans with Disabilities Act ramps on both sides and rapid flashing beacons to alert drivers that students are using the crosswalk.

A sign will alert drivers how fast they are driving.

The chainlink fence that borders the bus garage will be extended another 150 feet, narrowing the entrance/exit to the Huff'n'Puff parking lot.

The extended fencing will "get people to that one crosswalk and get people to walk across where they're supposed to be walking across," said Public Works Director Jay Harris.

The upgrades in front of Evergreen Elementary School at Seventh and Franklin streets include ADA ramp improvements and replacing paint crossing markers on the street with thermoplastic. The improvements at Ninth and Franklin streets include pedestrian crossing signs, thermoplastic markings, and extended sidewalks and curbs.

State grant will help Angleside water system

The Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening gave preliminary approval to accepting a $1.8-million grant from the state Department of Commerce for the design and construction of improvements to the Angelside water pressure zone system.

The council can make the move official with a second vote at its Jan. 16 meeting.

In its report to the council, the Public Works Department states that during the preparation of the city's water comprehensive plan, the city became increasingly aware of the fire flow and pressure issues associated with the water storage and distribution system within the Angleside pressure zone. The city hired BHC Consultants to help city staff understand the issues and make recommendations for improvements.

BHC Consultants recently completed the Angelside pressure zone pre-design report that outlines the needed short- and long-term improvements and associated project costs. The direct appropriation last summer from the state Legislature pays for both final design and construction of the first phase of the water system improvements in the Angelside pressure zone to help pressure and storage volume issues, according to the city report.