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city waffles on sidewalk repair
Today’s stuff2fix column at the RTD takes on the question of what can be done about sidewalks in disrepair or missing bricks. This sounds familiar…
From the article:
Michael West, street maintenance operations manager for the Richmond Department of Public Works, visited the block, according to spokeswoman Britt Drewes.
West agrees the street “warrants improvement.”
Bob S.’s situation is a little trickier: Whoever tore up the sidewalk is responsible for repairing it. The owner will have to file a claim with the city if a city agency is responsible.
The city is looking into who might be responsible.
As for the rest of the block, with its incomplete sections of sidewalk, Drewes said there is no money for fixing them at the moment. The department will submit a request for funding in next year’s capital-improvements budget, but there is no guarantee the funds will be obtained.
Spotty response by the city on repair/replacement of brick sidewalks. Much of it, at least in Union Hill, seems to be motivated by politics more than safety. That may not be the case but that is the perception as I see where work is done and where work is not done, despite years’long requests having been filed.
The city has been replacing/repairing the brick side walks on parts of Marshall and one area of 33rd. I think they’ve been working in other areas as well. It looks like they may have created tree wells in some areas.
Yes. We have had the city out, public utilities out, the developer out, and now Ms. Fix-it out. Next, I may have to invite my part time collegue (Mr. Mayor) out for some drinks to see if politics holds any water (I’m guessing no). I might as well plant grass. (At least this would better match the surrounding sidewalks in the neighborhood).
Why are we not talking with our Council representative about sidewalk and street repair. She has spent $250,000.00 on a purchasing and renovating a building on 31sat Street (its a 3 million dollar project) and millions on a traffic circle at Jefferson and M Street. Let’s fix our existing infrastructure before we start spending tax dollars onsometing new. Anybody heard of any traffic problem at M and Jefferson that would warrant a traffic circle????
Actually, the Jefferson Street / M Street / 25th Street intersection is a public safety nightmare. Too many drivers misunderstand the right of way there, causing frequent accidents. Take a look at the accident numbers and you would agree that the need for a traffic solution there isn’t debatable. If you still disagree, well, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Call her up!
As for the sidewalks, maybe we should take a what-can-we-do-for-ourselves attitude, instead of asking the City to put in new brick sidewalks no one is going to weed. We should each lead by example by keeping your own section of sidewalk weed free. Maybe the neighborhood association should start some specified sidewalk clean-up days, where neighbors tackle the problem sidewalks together. It’s the overgrown sidewalks that make the bricks dislodge and heave out of the ground. If we had a uniform weed-the-sidewalks mentality, we could prevent the appearance of decay ourselves.
They re-did the brick sidewalk in front of our house on 31st st right before we moved in. The previous owner told us he just kept calling and calling about it and eventually they came out and put the sidewalk in.
But I’m up for us doing some of the work as well. I like the idea of a sidewalk weeding day or something like that.
Hey, hey…
I’m all for keeping my own and nearby sidewalks clean and clear, which I do sometimes thrice daily.
My concern is for those instances when most of the sidewalk is gone or when what is there ends up under 3″ of water with even a mild rain; and when written and phoned requests – to city councel rep and liason and to city hall officials – for some relief on the grounds of safety, if nothing else, go ignored for a period of years…
On a sidewalk related note…. After moving to Church Hill my wife and I were amazed to see so many people foregoing use of the sidewalks and walking in the streets, sometimes right down the middle. Anyone else?
jc,
street walking is a time-honored pastime in most cities.