The City seeks to enhance and provide continuous sidewalk and bicycle facilities serving areas immediately north of View Ridge Elementary School through the Safe Routes to School program. The program provides funding to communities through a competitive application process and seeks to improve safety and mobility for children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school. Funding from this program is for projects within two-miles of primary, middle and high schools (K-12). In addition, the planned improvements align with the goals and recommendations of the City of Bremerton Non-Motorized Transportation Plan and City of Bremerton Comprehensive Plan.
Improvements under this Safe Routes to School project generally consists of the construction and/or reconstruction of sidewalks, construction of shared-use facilities (sidepaths and/or shared-use paths), construction of bicycle lanes, pedestrian lighting improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, and other improvements in the right-of-way which promote a safe use by pedestrians and cyclist. These improvements may also identify opportunities to slow vehicle traffic through implementation of traffic-calming measures.
Project Overview
View Ridge Elementary is currently located on Spruce Avenue south of Sylvan Way with a large proportion of current and potential pedestrian/bicycle traffic utilizing Almira Drive north of Sylvan Way to travel to and from the school. There are currently no designed bicycle facilities within the project area and sidewalks lack connectivity and accessibility. The project will install a system of accessible sidewalks and a shared-use path facilities serving areas immediately north of View Ridge Elementary School and as shown in the project location map. Other planned improvements under this project include street paving improvements, utility improvements, street lighting, curb ramps, traffic calming, and pavement markings. A rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) is currently planned to be installed under this project at the intersection of Sylvan Way and Almira Drive to enhance pedestrian and cyclist visibility.
The Bremerton School District is currently constructing a new location View Ridge Elementary School campus (planned to be in operation in 2027) on 32nd Street as part of a 25-year bond supporting updates or replacements to facilities across the district. In 2025, the City of Bremerton coordinated with the Washington State Department of Transportation (grant funding agency) and the Bremerton School District on modifying the scope of project to connect to the new location View Ridge Elementary. This change will result in a delay in project construction as shown under the project schedule information, but will provide the most direct connection to and from the school.
Project Funding
The City submitted an application to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for Safe Routes to School funding for the project in 2020 and received a notice of award for funding in 2022. The grant funding provides a maximum of $4,155,000 in project funding and requires a minimum City contribution/match of approximately $645,000 (13.5%) for a total of $4,800,000. All project costs not directly associated with improvements which improve pedestrian and bicycle access to/from View Ridge Elementary School or exceed awarded grant funding must be covered fully by the City. Non-eligible grant costs include the reconstruction of Almira Drive pavement and water/wastewater improvements. The overall project cost is estimated at approximately $6,240,000.
Safe Routes to School Grant Funding (WSDOT)
$4,155,000 (67%)
Transportation Capital Funds
$1,155,000 (18.5%)
Stormwater Capital Funds
$620,000 (10%)
Water Capital Funds
$210,000 (3%)
Wastewater Capital Funds
$100,000 (1.5%)
Total Estimated Cost
$6,240,000
The View Ridge Elementary – Almira Safe Routes to School Project is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.
Project Schedule
Design Phase: Underway (Estimated Completion Fall 2026) Right-of-Way Phase: Underway (Estimated Completion Fall 2026) Bid & Construction Phase: Planned (Estimated Late 2026 – Fall 2027)
Future Area Active Transportation Improvements
View Ridge Elementary – Almira Safe Routes to School (Phase 2)
This project is a continuation of SRTS improvements under the View Ridge Elementary – Almira Safe Routes to School Phase 1 Project and extends improvements along Almira Drive between Ivy Road and Riddell Road. In 2025, the City received approximately $5.9 million in Safe Routes to School funding to design and construct these improvements. More information can be found on the View Ridge Elementary - Almira Safe Routes to School (Phase 2) project webpage.
Future Active Transportation Connection (East 33rd Street to Sheridan Road)
The active transportation connection between East 33rd Street and Sheridan Road is shown under Phase 5 of the SR 303 Corridor Study (Appendix A). While funding has not been identified for these improvements at this time, information regarding possible route alignments and configurations was presented at the June 2023 Open House Meeting .
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Nick Ataie, P.E. Project Manager, City of Bremerton Engineering Division Ph: 360-473-2306 Email