Sidewalk AudioGood evening Mr. Mayor and City Council members. Tonight I will be presenting
an update on the FY 2009 sidewalk projects. With the infusion of $400 K in this
year’s CIP, the city currently has just over a $1M available.
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In terms of the presentation tonight I will very quickly review of the relationship
of the provision of sidewalks to the SL 2025, the city’s strategic management
system and the citizens survey. Director Bob Price will then review the status of
the FY 08 sidewalk priority list. I will then discuss the makeup of the sidewalk
staff committee and process. Followed by the sidewalk projects recommended
for FY 09. Then we can open it up for questions and comments.
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One of the key objectives of the Southlake 2025 Plan is to create a seamless system of
sidewalks and trails that allow citizens the opportunity to walk or bike to schools, businesses,
shopping, parks, and adjacent neighborhoods instead of utilizing the automobile. The benefits of
walking are well documented and include reductions in vehicular congestion, improvements in air
quality and there are a number of health benefits.
The first step in achieving this key objective of the SL 2025 plan was the creation of the Sidewalk
Plan. The sidewalk plan was identified as an action item in the SL 2025 plan and staff completed
the plan in 2007. The goal of the Sidewalk Plan is to complement or work in concert with the
City’s Master trail plan (Pathways Plan). The City’s Trail Plan addresses pedestrian mobility on a
broad scale in that it identifies inter-city trails and pathways to be constructed along arterials,
collectors, and creeks, sometimes in conjunction with development. The primary goal of the
City’s Trail Plan is to provide for recreational opportunities in the form of multi-use trails.
As discussed in the development of the SL 2025 plan, the city had provided a significant
investment in the provision of trails; however, it was difficult to access the trails. Also, the
fragmentation of the trail system was discussed.
The Sidewalk Plan complements the trail master plan by providing recommendations for a
system of sidewalks that connect to major trail system and identify major gaps in the trail system
network.The Sidewalk Plan includes a priority list for sidewalkgap projects that are critical in
pedestrian connectivity to neighborhoods, schools, parks, shopping, employment, and trails and
it serves as a framework for staff to base its recommendations.This priority list will be
implemented through the city's Capital Improvement Program.
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The provision of sidewalks is consist with the city’s focus areas and
corporate objectives including …….
C2 & F3
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Conditions = park facility maintenance, median maintenance, street lighting,
storm drainage
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The City Council has responded to the goals of the Southlake 2025 Plan,
Citizens Survey and comments received from the Web Site Contact Form by
instructing staff to make the provision of sidewalks a very high priority.
Specifically, City Council has adopted a very comprehensive sidewalk plan,
amended the zoning and subdivision ordinance to require sidewalks along all
public streets in conjunction with development, instructed staff to seek federal
and state grant funding for the provision of sidewalks such as the safe route to
school grants, and have increased annual funding in the City’s Capital
Improvement Program to $400,000 annually.
At this time I will turn the presentation over to Director Price who will bring City
Council up to date on the FY 08 sidewalk priority list
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There are two pieces of information that you should have in front of you –a
recommended priority list and map.
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Also as a reminded the FM 1709 decel lane project will likely begin in late 2009
or 2010 and sidewalks adjacent to the decel lanes will be built in conjunction
with this project.
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Lorrie Fletcher, Keith Martin and Jenny Crosby from PDS, Peter Kao and Julie
Dove from Community Services, and Joe Walsh from Public Works.
The sidewalk plan priority list was used as a framework to base the
recommendations
There was an emphasis placed on schools and FM 1709.
Also, the selection committee spent a considerable amount of time walking the
proposed pathway segments.
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The sidewalk will provide access to Central Market and Old Union from
Versailles
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8’ sidewalk
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