Safety Improvements Coming to Dolbeare

The Dolbeare School has been approved for a $513,000 federal grant to improve sidewalks around the school for students who walk to school every day.

The federal grant, which is offered through the "Safe Routes to School" program, would fund 100% of safety improvement project that would install a sidewalk on Vernon Street from Sesame Street down to Lowell Street. The project would build about 900 linear feet of new or improved sidewalks, and would include ramps and a bike rack.

Director of Public Works Director Rick Stinson brought the project before the Board of Selectmen on Dec. 12, recommending a favorable vote to allow the project to progress.

Stinson said the only money the town would be responsible for would be if there are easements necessary for the project.

The project is already significantly underway - the state has hired a consultant who came out and met with the town and recommended a solution. Then, the grant pays for engineering, design and coordination, and the town gets a one last approval over the final design, Stinson said. 

However, the grant must still be processed through the state, and Stinson said it "will take some time" before the money is actually available to the town.

Town Administrator Stephen Maio said it's a great project for that area.

"That area has a fair number of walkers," he said. "There was some discussion about crossing guards, but since there are no sidewalks on this other side, if they do install sidewalks, that may allow the school department to redeploy an existing crossing guard to somewhere else."

The Board voted favorably on the project.