Chamlian Armenian School in Glendale to receive funds to improve safety

PanARMENIAN.Net - Glendale schools will receive $1 million to improve safety on nearby roads and crossings to encourage more parents and students to ride a bicycle or walk to campus.

According to Glendale News-Press, the competitive grant was awarded through the Federal Safe Routes to School Program as a part an effort to increase safety around Glendale schools. The city also received $500,000 to fund educational programs that promote walking or cycling among students in 21 elementary and middle schools.

Much of the money will fund infrastructure improvements at Chamlian Armenian School and Valley View, Franklin, Edison and Cerritos elementary .

In some cases, the schools lacked sidewalks, parking, crossing guards and flashing crosswalks. Chamlian Principal Vazken Madenlian called the traffic flow at the Lowell Avenue campus a “serious situation.”

“During peak traffic hours, a line of cars backs up from the school to the Lowell Avenue offramp from the Foothill (210) Freeway. This is something that we have to sit down and talk with traffic engineers to look at exactly what we need,” Madenlian said.

“Walking and riding a bicycle to school is more challenging for Chamlian students since many of them live in other cities, including Pasadena and Burbank. But administrators encourage parents and students to carpool to reduce traffic congestion,” he added.

Some improvements at the schools include curb extensions, flashing lights at crosswalks, raised crosswalks, signs, road striping and crossing islands.