NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lawmakers in Nashville are considering a bill aimed at improving pedestrian safety for students walking to school.
The proposed legislation, HB0016, would establish a student pedestrian protection grant program to design, construct and repair sidewalks around public schools. Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, is sponsoring the bill.
“We have a lot of children in rural and urban areas walking, having to walk in the ditches or on the side of the road,” Clemmons explained in a committee meeting. “And so what I’ve heard from various LEAs [local education agencies] across the state is they would love to better protect their children and their students and see if we can’t help them fund some sidewalk construction in and around our schools and within the neighborhoods.”…