This document discusses the advantages and implications of locating a new elementary school at the Mega-Block location in Mercer Island, Washington. It notes that the Mega-Block location is near over 600 apartment units and would be very walkable and bikeable. It also notes that there is precedent for having multiple schools at the Mega-Block site. The document discusses how the elementary school would not compromise the options for the existing high school. It also summarizes that traffic and pedestrian impacts would be minimal, with some reduction of traffic on nearby roads, and that the site has over 3 miles of existing sidewalks to allow safe walking and biking to the new school.

1. FAQs Elementary School Location
• Advantages of the Mega-Block location?
• Flexibility with respect to the High School?
• What are the Pedestrian and traffic
implications?
1

2. Density of homes and proximity to 645
apt. units that are less than ½ mile away.
• This elementary will be the most walked to and bicycled to school.
Shorewood
Apartments
645 (Units)
New
School

3. MISD owns the property
3
Admin. Office PEAK Child / YTN / Pixie Hill High School Pool

4. Precedence for 3 schools on site
4
1978 Photo of the Mega-Block – Facilities Educating 2,500 k-12 students
Admin. Office Elementary Junior High High School Pool

5. Survey results of new school location
5
June 2012, EMC polling survey (Question #56)

6. Proposed Mega-Block layout with new
elementary school
6
Allows for a 500 person elementary school, while preserving the ability for MIHS to be rebuilt
or renovated if ever necessary.

7. Elementary school does not compromise
MIHS long-term options
7

8. MIHS campus size is in-line with 3A and
4A KingCo peers
8

9. Traffic and pedestrian impacts of 4th
elementary school located at Mega-Block
• Survey indicates no net change in trip generation
between new school and current MISD tenants
• 4th elementary will reduce traffic on ICW, 40th,
East Mercer and 53rd
• MISD parking lot entrance/exits will improve
traffic flow
• 3 miles of existing separated sidewalks will allow
for safer pedestrian/bicycling to school
9

10. No net difference in traffic between
current tenants and new school
10
• The District’s commissioned transportation
study conducted by Transpo Group and
presented in Dec. 2012 cited minimal traffic
change.
“The proposed Elementary School Option would
provide minimal change to the current existing
trip generation”

11. Reduces traffic on Island Crest
Way, 40th, 53rd and E. Mercer Way.
11Est. Center
of Mass
Elementary
School

12. 4th elementary school reduces traffic
12Est. Center
of Mass
Elementary
School
• Walking distance to
Shorewood Apts. A 645 unit
apartment complex.
• Students located in the yellow
area will no longer be
transported via car & bus to IP.
• Estimated reduction of 250
vehicle round trops per day on
(ICW, EMW, & 53rd)

13. MISD parking lot entrance/exits will improve
traffic flow
• 4th elementary distribute vehicles on 3 separate
streets
– Buses access school through existing bus lot on 42nd
– Parking is provided off of 40th.
– Parent pick-up/drop-off is provided on 86th.
• MIHS improved drive through loop
– Pick-up/drop-off will be directly accessed via 42nd ,
thereby reducing current queueing on 42nd single access
to 2 parking lots and current pick-up/drop-off.
13

14. Density and network of sidewalks
around mega-block
14
Miles of sidewalks within ½
mile radius of school.
Mega-Block: 3 miles
Island Park: 2.5 miles
West Mercer: 1.5 miles
Lakeridge: 1.5 miles
South on 88th Ave. East on 40th St.
East on 40th St. West on 42nd St. 42nd St. cut through Shorewood Apts.

15. 3 miles of sidewalks within ½ mile radius
of new elementary school
15Does not include sidewalks, west of Island Crest Way