TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - Safe Routes to School is hoping to secure a grant from State Farm to fund 'rapid flashing beacons' for two Toledo Public Schools' crosswalks, but they need your help by voting online.
The $25,000 grant would put flashing lights at Glendale-Feilbach Elementary and McTigue Middle School crosswalks, since both are considered to be busy intersections with students who frequent the area on foot.
The beacons would flash much like ambulance lights and would be pedestrian-controlled, allowing anyone wanting to cross to push a button to activate the lights.
Some neighbors say with so much pedestrian traffic, cars are driving way too fast.
"I just think they ought to be a little bit more careful here because there are kids walking from the school, like down Cass Road and across the street and I just think it would help to have blinking crosswalk lights or something to make it safer. Because we don't want any accidents or anything with the kids. Safety's always important, before there's an accident," said David Drescher, who lives directly across the street from Glendale-Feilbach.
Currently, 75 percent of the students at McTigue have to cross Nebraska Avenue in order to get to school. At Glendale-Feilbach, approximately 25 percent of the students have to cross Cass Road while walking or biking to and from school.
"(The initiative) is to promote kids walking and biking to school. We want parents to feel comfortable and know that their kids are safe getting to and from school by walking and also just to help the kids get across the street more safely," said Jenny Hansen, Safe Routes to School coordinator.
Once the organization finds out whether or not they will receive the funding, the next step will be to work with the City of Toledo to commence the projects, which may take anywhere from 6 to 12 months to complete.
Voting for the funds closes at midnight on Wednesday. To vote and support the project, go to
and click on the link at the top of the page.
