Where the Sidewalk Ends
Posted by Chapin on Mar 04 2010
Tags: Burlington, Sidewalk
All over Chittenden County, residents are clamoring for more sidewalks and crosswalks. Unfortunately, getting them built is proving difficult. In Hinesburg and Colchester, tight budgets have put sidewalk projects on hold.
Last week in Burlington, nearly 20 residents packed a Burlington Public Works Commission meeting to voice their support for a critical sidewalk connection between their homes and Edmunds School (see map). The sidewalk (see picture) currently deadends onto South Willard Street – aka US Route 7.
Parents, children, and transportation planners supported the position of DPW staff to build this 100 foot section of sidewalk along South Willard Street. The Commission 4-3 against moving forward with staff’s recommendation to build the sidewalk because of one neighbors’ concern over losing one on-street parking space in front of their home. Neighbors and Local Motion are determined to get the sidewalk project moving again.
Hill section neighbor and Local Motion member Daniel Scheidt says “My children would like to walk to school more than they do. The biggest obstacle is a mid-block crossing of Willard Street that requires kids to cross without benefit of a stop light, stop sign or crossing guard. Although this is a designated ’safe route to school’ and DPW has been studying the project for at least three years, the sidewalk needed to correct the problem hasn’t been built. We urge the City to build the sidewalk this year.”
Want to help? Contact Charlene Wallace.
1 Comment »
on 17 Apr 2010 at 12:27 am 1.Chapin Spencer said …
LOCAL MOTION UPDATE:
The Public Works Commission voted to approve the construction of a sidewalk
from DeForest Heights to Cliff St. on April 14 at a cost of $20,000 to the
city. This is a 60' section of sidewalk that will connect pedestrians from
the hill section who are going to Edmunds school and downtown. In
a "mobility study" of the Cliff St. area, it was identified as an important
connection in the sidewalk network to complete. The intersection at Cliff
and Willard is a dangerous one since there are sidewalks only on the west
side and no crosswalk across Willard St.; when the new sidewalk section is
built, a crosswalk across Willard St. on the south side of the intersection
will be installed as well.
Public works staff designed two alternatives to choose from, one costing
$20,000 and one costing $58,000. Unfortunately the $20,000 choice meant
that 5 parking spaces will be lost on the west side of Willard St. Two
residents on Willard St. are very disappointed that they will be losing
parking in front of their homes.
A big THANK YOU to Public Works staff, who did a great job of designing the
alternatives and patiently worked through the public process to get this
approved. THANKS to Public Works commissioners who asked a lot of good
questions and worked hard to balance concerns of both the general public and
the affected neighbors. THANK YOU to residents and advocates who came out to
support the project.