NewsDriving Tampa Bay Forward

Actions

Nearly two dozen middle schools are getting safety updates in Hillsborough County

Crosswalk-DTBF.png
Posted at 4:34 PM, Jul 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-16 05:54:42-04

TAMPA, Fla. — Nearly two dozen middle schools in Hillsborough County are getting safety updates outside the schools to help create safer paths to school.

ABC Action News received the list of the schools in unincorporated Hillsborough County that needed updates -- from new crosswalks, to new signs, and even lowering the speed limit outside one.

ABC Action News has been showing the unsafe school zones from lack of crosswalks, or proper signs for the past year.

A Driving Tampa Bay Forward report discovered that three people were hit inside one crosswalk near Barrington Middle School this past year. After our reports, county commissioners asked the county to make immediate changes to the mid block crosswalk.

RELATED:

Over the summer, the county also added flashing beacons to help drivers stop.

The county has evaluated 24 middle schools, determining 21 of them needed updates.

In an email the county said three did not need updates, "a field review at Beth Shields Way, Burns, and Walker determined the signs, traffic signals, crossings, and pavement marketing were already in good condition and no further action was required. Evaluations also identified that students at Beth Shields Way and Walker commute 100 percent by bus."

Rodgers Middle School in Riverview also got sidewalks this summer but that project was funded by the school district.

In total, the county allocated $200,000 in infrastructure updates.

ABC Action News is committed to Driving Tampa Bay Forward. Stay on top of the latest road safety and infrastructure updates by downloading our streaming app available on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.