Officials Work To Make Walking To School Safer For Students

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Making the walk to school safer.

Thanks to a multi-million dollar grant, the city has more money to give streets in school zones a facelift.

Gigi Barnett explains how it will help.

City and school leaders unveiled a new plan Wednesday to help students arrive to class alive. Thanks to a $2 million federal grant, school zones citywide will get a makeover. Parents at schools across Baltimore complained about the unsafe walking conditions for months.

"There's congestion because we're at an intersection that's closed off so there was congestion and sometimes traffic," said Mary Ann Winterling Elementary principal Nikia Carter.

"I've seen a lot of things," said Carterese Hill.

Hill walks her fourth-grader to and from Winterling Elementary every day. She says many times it's distracted drivers who make the stroll to school unsafe.

"Even with the crossing guard out there, some of them might run the stop sign. It all depends on who the driver is and what area they're in," Hill said.

The extra cash will repair sidewalks. It will also add signs in the neighborhoods. School leaders say that should make the walk to school a safer one.

"We're also doing a survey of each and every school to make sure that we are aware of what improvements need to be made," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

The mayor says 11 city schools will also start a walking school bus program. It allows parents and volunteers to walk with students to and from school every day.

School leaders say the walk to school must be safe because sometimes it's the only exercise students get.