SPANAWAY, Wash. — A push to help kids walk to school more safely is underway in the Bethel School District as the area continues to face a shortage of sidewalks.
Right now, the district estimates that 9% of all streets have sidewalks.
It's an issue the area has been facing for years as the district, which is in unincorporated Pierce County, grows with little money coming in.
"I think this area has been neglected for a very long time," said State House Representative Mari Leavitt.
"It's dark, the terrain is uneven and there are potholes everywhere. It's really hard to see and cars are just flying by," Leavitt added.
That's impacting families with students who walk to school. Especially for those parents whose jobs start early leaving their kids to battle the streets alone.
Last year the district organized a walking protest to show state leaders just how bad some students have it - KING 5 was there and spoke to frustrated parents.
"Even with officers out here with us, plainly seen...there are still people speeding down the streets. This is what our students face and they don't have reflective vests or flashlights or things of that nature," said Marcus Young, whose child walks to Spanaway Middle School.
That was enough to get the attention of Leavitt, who then worked to secure $10.5 million into the State transportation budget to build more sidewalks in the district. Governor Inslee signed the budget at the end of March.
The investment will pay for 5 of the 10 miles that have been called priority areas by school leaders.
"Along B street in particular we have the main part of our population coming to school on that route, there are no sidewalks, said Spanaway Middle School principal Shannon Leavenworth.
The investment is the largest towards the area's sidewalks in decades, and construction is expected to start this summer.
"I'm glad we were able to secure those dollars to finally come up to speed to where we should have been where I think the county should have been 20 years ago," said Leavitt.