Eight El Paso school zones to be upgraded

Eight El Paso schools will get the funding needed to upgrade school zones. A $1.5 million dollar contract was approved during a city council meeting Tuesday.

The city will match roughly 35% of the contract approved. The schools will receive upgrades like school zone flashers, pedestrian ramps and signing and striping.

A policy shift years ago required school districts to fund school zones, but city reps approved the funding this time around. They say this is a continuation of the initial plan they committed to in 2011 to upgrade 71 locations across El Paso. 53 have since been upgraded, and 19 still need improvements.

The 8 schools include Thomas Manor Elementary School, Jane Hambric, Benito Martinez elementary schools in the Socorro district and five EPISD elementary schools: Park, Moreno, Kohlberg, Vilas, and Dr. Nixon.

Residents who live near Kohlberg Elementary school in west El Paso, say flashing lights will help catch the attention of distracted drivers.

“Living in this area, we’ve actually seen a lot of accidents that have occurred continuously around that road. So I feel like the safety is going to be a huge factor and those flashing lights will be a part of that safety,” Selestte sanchez, a West El Paso resident said.

City officials tell Abc-7 the installation of flashing lights will be done next year.