Crystal River High School will be the recipient of new sidewalks due to the Florida State Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Grant Program.

The grant program funding is offered in an effort to improve the health and well-being of students by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school.  The Citrus County BOCC approved the Work Authorization to apply for the grant on October 11, 2016.

The Crystal River High School sidewalk construction project will include a five-foot wide sidewalk along both sides of Turkey Oak from SR44 to 170 feet north of Woodbury Court, along with installation of high emphasis crosswalk markings at side streets along Turkey Oak from SR44 to US19. There will also be reconstruction of curb ramps and upgrades to the pedestrian signals at the SR44/Turkey Oak intersection, drainage modifications and curb ramp improvements at the southeast corner of CR495/Turkey Oak.

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will fund the design and construction which is estimated at a cost of $722,049.  Construction of the new sidewalk is scheduled to begin in 2021.  One hundred eleven of the school’s one thousand three hundred forty-six students reside within two miles of the school.

Citrus County Department of Public Works, Engineering Division applied for the grant as the “maintaining” agency, partnering with Citrus County School District as required by the SRTS program guidelines.  Eligible SRTS projects are required to directly support increased safety and convenience for students in grades K-high school to walk and/or bicycle to/from school.