School Streets

Updated: August 2025

Program Overview

What are School Streets?

Have you noticed a block next to a school closed to through-traffic? That’s a School Street! School Streets are open for school buses and people walking and biking and closed to through traffic (including school drop-off and pick-up). 

Left: Permanent School Street at Emerson Elementary in Rainier Beach. Right: Temporary School Street at Madison Middle School in West Seattle. 

Why School Streets? 

School Streets disperse the car traffic around a school so walking and biking to school is more welcoming with cleaner air and more comfortable crossings.

Who can drive on a School Street? 

Local access is allowed for: 

• Residents
• School buses and other district transportation (like Hop, Skip, Drive)
• Students with mobility needs
• Deliveries
• Waste pickup
• Emergency vehicles  

When are School Streets in effect?

• Temporary School Streets generally operate 7AM-5PM on school days.
• Permanent School Streets are in effect 24/7. 

Apply to get a School Street:

Interested in getting a School Street at your school?  Fill out the form to get started! 

• The requested block must: 
  • Be adjacent to the school
  • Be a non-arterial street (if there is no line - dotted or solid - running along the middle of the street, it is most likely a non-arterial street)  
  • You can find your street type here.
  • Not have a public bus route
  • Our evaluation of School Street requests also includes impacts to businesses and fire response routes 
• If you are a parent or PTA member making the request, we'll also ask for an email from the school principal in support of the School Street request. 
• If approved, we can have the School Street in place within a few weeks and it will be in place through the end of the school year. 
• We'll provide you with a flyer to share with your school community and we'll let the nearby neighbors know about the closure.