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for larger version       Weiner Provides Funds For School Street Safety Representative. Anthony Weiner, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has announced $2.5 million has been allotted for public safety improvements around New York City schools, including six schools in the Ninth Congressional District. The funds will be used to add or upgrade safety measures such as crosswalks, signs, speed bumps and medians as part of the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Safe Routes to Schools Program. Last week, Weiner joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg, DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein at P.S. 21 in the Bronx where the list of schools slated for enhancements was announced. The Department of Transportation studied all 1,471 elementary and middle schools in New York City and established a list of 135 schools that are considered priority schools for safety improvements - schools with the highest accidents rates. Of the 135 priority schools, 46 are in Brooklyn and 34 are in Queens. The project is part of a nationwide effort aimed at making it safer for kids to travel to and from schools by reducing traffic congestion, reducing collisions in and around schools, and decreasing speed in residential neighborhoods. For children ages 5 to 9 in New York City, getting hit by a motorist is the number one cause of death and injury. To accomplish these goals, each priority school in New York City will receive infrastructural additions or upgrades such as speed bumps, traffic signals, bicycle lanes, medians and crosswalks. Construction is set to being on the first 32 priority schools in 2007. Weiner, from his seat on the House Transportation Committee, was instrumental in securing funding for the project. Weiner's $2.5 million in federal funds, which comes from federal gasoline taxes, makes up a significant portion of the estimated $30 million needed to complete work at all of the 135 priority schools.In addition to the 135 schools announced today, Weiner is working with Commissioner Weinshall to fast track improvements at 10 additional City schools. "Looking both ways before crossing a street isn't enough to protect our City's schoolchildren," said Weiner. "We have to stop speeding, reckless driving and collisions around our schools."
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