Hillsborough County Public Works is working in cooperation with Hillsborough County School District staff to implement the School Safety Circulation and Access Program (SSCAP) designed to improve traffic conditions at existing schools located throughout the County. Consultants employed by Public Works have been analyzing existing schools to determine if improvements can be made to help ensure safer and more efficient traffic conditions during parent drop-off and pick-up periods.

Walker Middle School has been analyzed as part of SSCAP. Hammond Elementary School was recently completed and opened for the current school year and it is located adjacent to Walker Middle on the same campus. The School District intended to construct off-site access improvements for Hammond adjacent to the campus and agreed to merge the project with the Walker improvements recommended by Public Works to create a safer and more cost-efficient design.

The Walker Middle School improvements will be funded by Hillsborough County Department of Public Works and the Hammond Elementary School improvements will be funded by the School District. The design cost of $141,821 will be shared equally by the School District and Public Works ($70,910.50 each). The construction costs will be apportioned based on a determination of each party's fair share of the project. The preliminary construction cost estimate is $550,000. However, the agreement will be amended once the final design has been agreed upon by both parties and the fair shares have been determined. Funding for the School District's portion of the project will be provided through COPS 2002 (Certificates of Participation Series 2002).