View Ridge Elementary - Almira Safe Routes to School (Phase 2)

Project News

• Project Location Map (PDF)
• Notice to Consultants

Project Purpose

The City seeks to enhance and provide continuous sidewalk and bicycle facilities serving areas north of View Ridge Elementary School along Almira Drive through the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. This project is a continuation of SRTS improvements under the View Ridge Elementary – Almira Safe Routes to School Phase 1 Project. 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.

Project Overview

View Ridge Elementary is 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 commute to and from the school. The Bremerton School District is currently constructing a new View Ridge Elementary campus immediately southeast of the current school site with construction estimated to be complete in early 2027.

The View Ridge Elementary – Almira Safe Routes to School Phase 1 Project includes construction of a shared-use sidepath, and associated street improvements, from View Ridge Elementary to the intersection of Almira Drive and Ivy Road. This project will provide a continuation of improvements along Almira Drive between Ivy Road and Riddell Road. Improvements will provide an 11-foot wide shared-use sidepath on the east side of Almira Drive, a 6-foot continuous sidewalk on the west side of Almira Drive, street pavement improvements, traffic calming features, and street illumination improvements. Public outreach in 2023 showed a strong community desire for lower-stress off-street bike facilities in lieu of on-street bike lanes as originally envisioned in prior City planning documents. The proposed sidepath is part of a larger planned city active transportation network ultimately planned to provide enhanced connectivity in East Bremerton. 

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 2022 and was not selected for funding. In early 2025, the City received a notice of award for funding in through the state’s 2024 supplemental transportation budget under “Move Ahead Washington” (MAWA) which includes appropriates from the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The grant funding provides a maximum of $5,912,000 in project funding and includes a City contribution of $600,000 for a total of $6,512,000. 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 utility  improvements. The overall project cost is estimated at approximately $7,512,000.

The View Ridge Elementary – Almira Safe Routes to School Phase 2 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

The following project schedule is currently anticipated:

Contact Us

Nick Ataie, P.E.
Project Manager, City of Bremerton Engineering Division
Ph: 360-473-2306
Email