TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the recommendation establishing the 2018 Annual New Sidewalk Program
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Kelly Dunne, Project Engineer
BACKGROUND:
On January 6, 2004, City Council approved the Comprehensive Sidewalk Policy, a policy and guideline for sidewalk installation and maintenance within Naperville’s corporate boundaries. The policy assists City Council, the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB), staff and residents by clearly defining the City’s policies and practices for sidewalk installation.
The policy established the Annual New Sidewalk Program to programmatically install sidewalk in identified gap locations. Each year, a list of selected gap locations is presented to TAB and City Council for inclusion in the following year’s construction program. Since 2004, sidewalk has been installed in 108 gap locations (including locations to be constructed in 2017), totaling approximately 12.8 miles.
Based on an inventory of existing sidewalk gaps throughout the City, the following gaps remain uninstalled and planned for future construction programs:
|
|
Number of Sidewalk Gaps |
Length of Sidewalk Gaps |
|
Arterial Roadways |
45 |
19 miles |
|
Non-Arterial Roadways |
241 |
32 miles |
|
Total |
286 |
51 miles |
The approximately 51 miles of sidewalk gaps will be installed incrementally based upon the annual budget allocation for the sidewalk program and the priority system.
DISCUSSION:
In preparation for the 2018 Annual New Sidewalk Program, City staff comprehensively evaluated the sidewalk gap inventory based on the priority system. The priority system phases installation of sidewalk based on public safety, proximity to schools, linkages to the existing pedestrian network, roadway classification, and project coordination opportunities. An overview of the priority system is attached.
Top locations for near-term installation were selected based on the priority system. Residents and property owners on the blocks where new sidewalk is proposed were invited to provide public input at the July 6, 2017 TAB meeting. This input was then used to determine the top candidates for installation in the upcoming construction year. The draft meeting minutes are attached.
2018 Annual New Sidewalk Program Funding
Funding for the Annual New Sidewalk Program comes from the City’s annual Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Historically, $300,000 is budgeted for new sidewalk installation. The City’s Five-Year CIP includes $300,000 for the Annual New Sidewalk Program for CY18. This $300,000 allows for approximately one mile of sidewalk to be constructed.
Besides the CIP funding, new sidewalk can be installed under other various means. The City has successfully received significant funding from Safe Routes to School and will continue to pursue it for future new sidewalk installation. Sidewalk construction costs can also be shared between the City and other agencies for gaps under County or Township jurisdiction. Lastly, sidewalk is installed in gap locations by private entities when redevelopment or teardowns occur, as well as with major CIP projects that have sidewalk components.
The City has received commitments from both DuPage County and Wheatland Township for participation in a cost-share for the 2018 new sidewalk locations proposed along those agency’s roadways.
2018 Annual New Sidewalk Program Recommendation
Based on the priority system of the Comprehensive Sidewalk Policy and incorporating the public input received from the July 6, 2017 TAB meeting, the following locations are proposed for the 2018 Annual New Sidewalk Program. Maps of the sidewalk gap locations are attached.
|
No. |
Street Name |
Side |
Gap Segment |
Location |
|
1. |
Book Road |
East |
Douglas Rd to Leverenz Rd |
Arterial |
|
2. |
Chicago Av |
North |
Julian St to 300’ East of Huffman St |
Arterial |
|
|
Julian St |
East |
56 S Julian St |
Other Non-Arterial |
|
3. |
Douglas Av |
South |
Webster St to Washington St |
Other Non-Arterial |
|
4. |
Eagle St |
East |
Franklin Av to Douglas Av |
Lairds Woods |
|
5. |
Jefferson Av |
South |
Birchwood Av to Whispering Hills Dr |
Other Non-Arterial |
|
6. |
Knoch Knolls Rd |
North |
Mayfield Ct to Seiler Dr |
Other Non-Arterial |
|
7. |
Loomis St |
East |
Porter Av to Prairie Av |
East Highlands |
|
8. |
Willow Rd |
West |
Hillside Rd to Maple Ln |
East Highlands |
Public Notice
In advance of this Transportation Advisory Board meeting, affected residents and commercial properties were notified of the City’s intent to construct sidewalk at these locations. Affected residents were also notified of the previous TAB meeting and invited to provide comment on the proposed near-term locations. Affected residents are defined as all property owners along the side of the roadway segment where sidewalk construction is proposed, whether their residence currently has sidewalk or not. A copy of this notice is attached. Notice was also posted on the City’s website.
Next Steps
Following TAB consideration, the 2018 Annual New Sidewalk Program will be scheduled for a City Council meeting. The Transportation Advisory Board recommendation, TAB meeting minutes, and all public correspondence will be provided to the City Council when they consider this matter.