ESCONDIDO — The city is advancing additional funding for traffic projects near local schools to improve pedestrian and school safety.
The Escondido City Council approved increasing the Transportation and Community Safety Commission’s annual budget from $50,000 to $200,000 on Jan. 14 for projects on the Traffic Management Project List. The list, which has remained at $50,000 since its inception in 2014, generally identifies projects focused on pedestrian and school safety.
Each year, the list is initiated by the School Zone Safety Committee, composed of local school districts, COMPACT, the Escondido Police Department and Traffic Engineering. Over the past three years, 11 projects have been proposed at seven schools, mostly high-visibility crosswalks, ADA curb ramps, and flashing beacons. Four additional projects were selected to reduce speeds on Vista Avenue, Felicita Avenue, Khayyam Road and Golden Circle Road.
With a $50,000 budget, the commission has had to pick and choose which projects to fund.
Council agreed to increase funding from $50,000 to $85,000 for the current fiscal year to fully fund four TMPL projects, pulling the additional $35,000 from Measure I. Beginning next year, the commission’s annual budget will increase by $150,000 using funds from Measure I.
The four projects selected for this year include one in each City Council district.
Projects
- The District 1 project would add high-visibility crosswalks at North Ash Street and East Lincoln Avenue, a busy intersection near Farr and Pioneer elementary schools. The project will cost approximately $20,000.
- In District 2, high-visibility crosswalks are proposed at the intersection of East El Norte Parkway and Valley Parkway near Valley High School, at an estimated cost of $20,000.
- The District 3 project proposes high-visibility crosswalks at South Broadway and East Fourth Avenue near Central Elementary School, at a cost of $15,000.
- In District 4, high-visibility crosswalks are proposed at West Valley Parkway and Ninth Avenue near Del Dios Academy and will cost approximately $30,000.
The four projects were prioritized for the 2025-26 fiscal year through school outreach efforts as part of the city’s Comprehensive Active Transportation Strategy, under which the Safe Routes to School initiative is implemented.
As part of Safe Routes to School, school safety audits were completed at 33 schools — including public and charter schools — throughout Escondido. During the audits, school administrators and parents met with city staff to discuss safety concerns, helping generate a list of future TMPL projects.
City Manager Sean McGlynn noted the City Council will consider funding for the full Safe Routes to School program on Feb. 25. For now, he said, the increased annual budget for the Transportation and Community Safety Commission represents progress.
“They were trying to make a lot with very little, so this is a start in that space,” McGlynn said. “There’s more to come, and this gives them a three-fold increase in the funding in front of them.”
Several council members indicated support for additional funding for traffic safety projects near schools moving forward.
“Traffic safety is a top issue for our residents,” said Councilmember Consuelo Martinez.
Council members also noted that increased community education on the use of high-visibility crosswalks and other traffic safety improvements is important for the public.
