CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the 2018 Annual New Sidewalk Program.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Kelly Dunne, Project Engineer
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
On September 7, 2017, the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) recommended approval of the 2018 Annual New Sidewalk Program, (Approved 8-1).
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, 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 Gaps |
Total Length of 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, project coordination opportunities, and public input. An overview of the priority system used to determine the sidewalk gaps recommended for installation is attached.
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.
Transportation Advisory Board
On the July 6, 2017 TAB meeting, staff presented a list of top locations for near-term (within three years) installation, as determined by the priority system. Residents and property owners on the blocks where new sidewalk is proposed in the near-term were invited to provide public input. This invitation was extended to all property owners along the side of the roadway segment where sidewalk construction is proposed, whether their residence currently has sidewalk or not. Notice was also posted on the City’s website.
The purpose of this initial TAB meeting was to receive public input in order to select the top candidates for installation in 2018 from the larger three-year pool. The near-term location list is attached. Four residents provided testimony and other members of the public provided input via email or phone. The meeting minutes and resident correspondence log are attached. At the TAB meeting, one resident provided information that her house was a potential teardown, so staff was able to omit that location from the program because developers are required to build new sidewalk. Several residents shared concerns about impacts to their parkway trees. After a closer assessment of these properties, staff determined that these locations should be ranked below other candidates due to constructability challenges.
Based on the priority system of the Comprehensive Sidewalk Policy and incorporating the public input received, the following 2018 Annual New Sidewalk Program recommendation was developed. 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 |
On September 7, 2017, TAB considered the 2018 Annual New Sidewalk Program and three members of the public provided testimony. All property owners along the eight proposed gap segments were invited and notice was again posted on the City’s website. See the attached draft meeting minutes.
At the meeting, a representative for an unincorporated property owner on the Knoch Knolls Road gap segment shared the property owner’s concerns with TAB. The initial concerns were impacts to the existing utilities and to property owner’s driveway and parkway trees. The property owner’s representation proposed that crosswalks to existing sidewalk on the other side of the street could serve as an alternative to building new sidewalk. City staff addressed these concerns and explained that impacts to the driveway would be typical of the New Sidewalk Program, the trees would not need to be removed, the utilities would not need to be relocated, that there is adequate space to situate sidewalk an appropriate distance from the roadway, and that continuous sidewalk on the north side of Knoch Knolls Road would be a safer alternative to uncontrolled crosswalks. TAB members discussed the merits of this location and expressed support, citing the proximity to Spring Brook Elementary School and the potential positive impact to students. At the conclusion of the discussion, TAB recommended approval of the 2018 Annual New Sidewalk Program, (Approved, 8-1).
Following the TAB meeting, the property owner expressed continued concerns for sidewalk at this location. The owner stated that the distance to the school is beyond the quarter-mile criteria used for the New Sidewalk Program and that there are not currently students who walk to the school that would benefit from the installation of new sidewalk. Staff doesn’t use the quarter-mile criteria as a requirement for new sidewalk installation, but rather to identify sidewalk gap segments in the 300+ location database that are near schools so that further analysis can be conducted at these locations. In this case, the distance between Spring Brook Elementary school and the proposed sidewalk’s eastern terminus is exactly 0.25 miles. Staff did confirm that the students who would benefit from the installation of sidewalk in this gap are currently bused, and installing sidewalk in this location would provide the opportunity for these students to walk to school instead.
The owner shared concerns that installing sidewalk in this gap segment will cost more than staff’s estimate due to construction challenges. Staff does not agree and maintains that the features of this gap segment are not abnormal for the New Sidewalk Program. The owner also reasoned that funds should not be spent on this segment because the City will not recoup them. Staff has spoken with Wheatland Township and they may be willing to share the cost of this section.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City’s Calendar Year 2018-2022 Capital Improvement Program includes $343,000 for the Annual New Sidewalk Program for CY18.