Bridge for Kids - Orting, WA

The Bridge for Kids Proposal

Under the existing evacuation plan:

* In an actual emergency, students and adults will either be entering the evacuation flow of traffic or trying to walk around it.
* Three quarters of the Orting School District can't fully participate in an emergency drill because it is unsafe during normal conditions.
* The width of the sidewalks and the separation from roadways are insufficient for the volume of a full scale evacuation .
* An emergency situation carries the potential for erratic drivers and roadway gridlock; a pedestrian pathway will be critical to survival for children and adults.

The Bridge for Kids proposal is an improvement over the existing evacuation route because:

* Not dependent on cars; avoids dependence on highway access and crossing auto evacuation routes
* Accessible to all four schools! It is less than 1 1/4 miles from any school -- could be closer depending on bridge location
* Takes school / staff cars off evacuation route
* Provides for single assembly area

The design proposed in the Bridge for Kids Study will accommodate 12,000 moderately paced pedestrians in a 40 minute time frame, making it available to evacuate much more than just the School District during school hours.