City of Reno, NV
01/07/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/07/2026 18:01
City of Reno Begins School Zone Flashing Beacon Project to Improve Student Safety
The City of Reno has officially started the School Zone Flashing Beacon Project aimed at improving safety for students walking and biking to school.
During the 2025-2026 construction season, the City will install approximately 114 flashing school zone beacons at 35 school zones across Reno. These upgrades will replace outdated static "15 MPH School Zone" signs with highly visible flashing beacons that activate during school arrival and dismissal times, providing a clear visual cue for drivers to slow down when children are present.
"It's so important to keep our students safe as they commute to school, and this project adds another layer of assurance for parents and guardians whose children will use these new beacons," said Councilmember Brandi Anderson, Ward 6. "I'd like to thank Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen and Congressman Mark Amodei for championing the federal funds that helped bring these new beacons to our community."
The project represents a $1.89 million investment in pedestrian safety and combines multiple funding sources, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and a $1,000,000 federal Community Project Funding (CPF) grant secured by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen and Congressman Mark Amodei, and administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
"I'm excited for the installation of these new school zone flashing beacons that will make the areas around Reno schools safer," said Senator Cortez Masto. "I'm proud to have helped secure funding for these critical safety improvements, and I'll continue to fight for the resources our communities need to protect our children and families."
"I'm happy to see the funding I helped secure making meaningful safety upgrades for our neighborhoods in Reno," said Senator Rosen. "These beacons will help keep students safe when they go to or from school and provide peace of mind for Nevada parents. As long as I'm in the Senate, I'll keep fighting to bring necessary funding to our state to make our communities safer."
"This funding delivers on Reno city leaders' commitment to strengthening public safety," said Rep. Mark Amodei. "By replacing outdated speed limit signs with highly visible, flashing warnings activated when students are present, we are taking a meaningful step to protect our students and remind drivers to slow down when it matters most. I was proud to help secure this funding."
School locations were selected using a data-driven prioritization process based on national safety guidance from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Factors such as traffic volumes, roadway conditions, and collision history were analyzed to identify school zones where flashing beacons would provide the greatest safety benefit. Lower-risk school zones will receive updated, high-visibility static signage that meets current federal standards.
The City worked closely with the Washoe County School District (WCSD) to identify priority locations and ensure the improvements align with school operations and Safe Routes to School goals.
"Safety is at the heart of everything we do at WCSD, and these new school zone beacons are another important step toward protecting our students," said Superintendent Joe Ernst. "By increasing visibility and reminding drivers to slow down, we're helping ensure that students can travel to and from school with confidence. We deeply appreciate the City of Reno and our federal partners for making this possible."
Construction began in fall 2025 and will continue through spring 2026, with installations timed to minimize impacts on school operations. Following installation, the City will evaluate effectiveness through traffic speed studies, collision data analysis, and feedback from students, parents, and crossing guards.
These 114 installations are part of a larger Citywide School Zone Improvement Program, which now totals 281 flashing beacons citywide. The remaining 167 beacons were installed previously or are funded through Councilmember Discretionary Funds, the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) Fuel Tax and the City Street Fund, ensuring a comprehensive and ongoing effort to enhance school zone safety across Reno. The total program cost for all 281 assets, including design, equipment, and construction, is approximately $5.2 million.
During the 2025-2026 construction season, the City will install approximately 114 flashing school zone beacons at 35 school zones across Reno. These upgrades will replace outdated static "15 MPH School Zone" signs with highly visible flashing beacons that activate during school arrival and dismissal times, providing a clear visual cue for drivers to slow down when children are present.
"It's so important to keep our students safe as they commute to school, and this project adds another layer of assurance for parents and guardians whose children will use these new beacons," said Councilmember Brandi Anderson, Ward 6. "I'd like to thank Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen and Congressman Mark Amodei for championing the federal funds that helped bring these new beacons to our community."
The project represents a $1.89 million investment in pedestrian safety and combines multiple funding sources, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and a $1,000,000 federal Community Project Funding (CPF) grant secured by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen and Congressman Mark Amodei, and administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
"I'm excited for the installation of these new school zone flashing beacons that will make the areas around Reno schools safer," said Senator Cortez Masto. "I'm proud to have helped secure funding for these critical safety improvements, and I'll continue to fight for the resources our communities need to protect our children and families."
"I'm happy to see the funding I helped secure making meaningful safety upgrades for our neighborhoods in Reno," said Senator Rosen. "These beacons will help keep students safe when they go to or from school and provide peace of mind for Nevada parents. As long as I'm in the Senate, I'll keep fighting to bring necessary funding to our state to make our communities safer."
"This funding delivers on Reno city leaders' commitment to strengthening public safety," said Rep. Mark Amodei. "By replacing outdated speed limit signs with highly visible, flashing warnings activated when students are present, we are taking a meaningful step to protect our students and remind drivers to slow down when it matters most. I was proud to help secure this funding."
School locations were selected using a data-driven prioritization process based on national safety guidance from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Factors such as traffic volumes, roadway conditions, and collision history were analyzed to identify school zones where flashing beacons would provide the greatest safety benefit. Lower-risk school zones will receive updated, high-visibility static signage that meets current federal standards.
The City worked closely with the Washoe County School District (WCSD) to identify priority locations and ensure the improvements align with school operations and Safe Routes to School goals.
"Safety is at the heart of everything we do at WCSD, and these new school zone beacons are another important step toward protecting our students," said Superintendent Joe Ernst. "By increasing visibility and reminding drivers to slow down, we're helping ensure that students can travel to and from school with confidence. We deeply appreciate the City of Reno and our federal partners for making this possible."
Construction began in fall 2025 and will continue through spring 2026, with installations timed to minimize impacts on school operations. Following installation, the City will evaluate effectiveness through traffic speed studies, collision data analysis, and feedback from students, parents, and crossing guards.
These 114 installations are part of a larger Citywide School Zone Improvement Program, which now totals 281 flashing beacons citywide. The remaining 167 beacons were installed previously or are funded through Councilmember Discretionary Funds, the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) Fuel Tax and the City Street Fund, ensuring a comprehensive and ongoing effort to enhance school zone safety across Reno. The total program cost for all 281 assets, including design, equipment, and construction, is approximately $5.2 million.
City of Reno, NV published this content on January 07, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 08, 2026 at 00:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]