By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

The Benicia Safe Routes to School community task force, part of the Solano Transportation Authority, will meet Monday to discuss school improvement plans for Robert Semple and Matthew Turner elementary schools.

Task force members will review the draft plans and set priority projects for Benicia, according to a meeting agenda.

Among the points up for discussion: the 17 walking audits that have been conducted countywide, which indicate a need for additional infrastructure funding to create safer walking and biking areas around schools. The draft plan up for review Monday identifies about $3 million in infrastructure needs, $2 million of which could be considered priority projects.

Casey Hildreth, associate planner for Alta Planning, will present the completed draft school improvement plan for Robert Semple and Matthew Turner. Initially reviewed by the community task forces in the spring, the plans have been revised to incorporate public comments as well as the data and walking routes identified through a routes mapping process.

Recommendations for engineering projects have been developed for Benicia by the Alta consultant team through the plan update process. Task force members will set priority projects to be included in the final plan.

Some of the recommended projects are sidewalk construction where none exist, in order to close an existing gap on a walking route; creating high-visibility crosswalks; and clear signage in passenger loading and unloading areas.

The Safe Routes to School community task force will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Benicia Community Center, 370 East L St., Room 2.

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