SAN ANTONIO — Southside Independent School District is slated to have sidewalks installed along Martinez Losoya Road, outside the main complex, in an effort to increase student safety.
“The intersection is 281 and Martinez Losoya," SISD Superintendent Rolando Ramirez said. "We were seeing our students walking along the road. That was very unsafe."
For at least the past two years, Southside ISD officials have worked alongside community members, Bexar County and the Texas Department of Transportation on a sidewalk plan.
Last June, the Southside ISD Board of Trustees approved a resolution calling for sidewalks along U.S. Highway 281 South and Martinez Losoya Road.
The proposal gained the approval of Texas Rep. John Lujan and Texas Sen. Roland Gutierrez.
In August, TxDOT conducted a traffic study to determine options for sidewalk construction.
Ramirez welcomed and appreciated the results of the feasibility study combined with Bexar County paying for the $150,000 sidewalk project.
“Their recommendation was to work on those sidewalks on Martinez Losoya. We also wanted sidewalks on 281; however, TX Dot felt by creating, constructing those sidewalks that it would add traffic to the sidewalk, which would pose a danger to the kids because of the high traffic on 281,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez cited TxDOT, indicating sidewalks along U.S. Highway 281 aren’t off the table in the future. He stressed it depends on future growth in the area, as Southside ISD currently has around 6,100 students.
“The projection shows that in the next couple years, it could be 8,000-9,000 students depending on if more subdivisions end up being developed in the area,” Ramirez said.
The sidewalks along Martinez Losoya Road are expected to be completed by next school year.