Federal Way announced the awarding of a $1.24 million federal grant to the city’s public works department. The Safe Routes to School grant money will be used at Mark Twain Elementary and Lakota Middle School.

At Lakota, the grant will provide $859,080 for the design and construction of a traffic signal at the intersection of 14th Avenue SW and SW 312th Street. The grant money will also mean the installation of features compliant with the Americans with Disability Act at the 14th Ave./312th St. intersection and at sidewalks on the north side of the street between 14th and 312th.

At Mark Twain, the grant is providing $386,057 to install a number of safety features:

• An advanced 20 mph solar school zone flasher on 25th Drive South

• Two solar powered LED rectangular-shaped rapid flashing beacons at the school zone crossing on Star Lake Road

• Six ADA-compliant ramps in the right of way

• Five ADA-compliant ramps on school property

• An 8- to 10-foot-wide paved walkway from the street to the building entrance

The city indicates “project design will begin later this summer and be completed in time for the beginning of the 2012 school year.” There are plans educate students about pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and the Federal Way Police Department will also carry out emphasis patrols in school zones.