Residents derail 5 proposed sidewalks

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June 14, 2008

By Paris Achen

Mail Tribune

Construction of five sidewalks — part of a larger project intended to provide children with safe pedestrian routes to Medford schools — has been canceled after area residents spoke against it.

The placement of the sidewalks would have created residential parking problems and cut off part of residents' perceived lawns, which are actually public right-of-way, that have been landscaped, said Medford City Council members who unanimously agreed on the changes.

Plans for 22 other sidewalk segments will move forward, establishing more pedestrian routes to Hoover, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Orchard Hill, Roosevelt, Washington and Wilson elementary schools.

Construction of the sidewalks is set to be completed by June 2009. Construction bids will go out in late summer or early fall, said Cory Crebbin, Medford public works director.

The canceled sidewalks include the west side of Hillhouse Avenue from Oregon Avenue to East Jackson Street; the west side of Groveland Avenue from East Main Street to Siskiyou Boulevard; the north side of Lawrence Avenue from Juanipero Way to Keith Avenue; the west side of Kenyon Avenue from O'Gara Street to 160 feet south of Barnett Road; and the south side of O'Gara from Whitman Avenue to Jasper Street.

Nixing construction of those sidewalks means the funds earmarked for them will go toward other to-be-determined sidewalk projects, which will create pedestrian links to schools, Crebbin said.

"Nobody wants to jeopardize children's safety," said City Councilman Bob Strosser. "We removed sidewalks with fewer safety benefits than perhaps other routes that are available."

The City Council also moved the sidewalk planned for the east side of Valley View Drive, between Hillcrest Road and East Main Street, to the west side of Valley View, based on residents' requests.

At a recent public hearing, two residents spoke against the sidewalk at Kenyon, 10 against and one in favor of Groveland, three against Hillhouse and two against Lawrence.

"There is no shortage of need for sidewalks in Medford," City Councilman Jim Kuntz. "If the residents don't want the sidewalk on their street, why ram it down their throats when there is a plethora of other places to put sidewalks?"

The O'Gara and Kenyon segments would have reduced residential parking space because the sidewalk would have shortened driveways, Kuntz said.

"That area is no-parking during school hours," Kuntz said. "If they can't park on the street and they park in the driveway and the cars hang out over the sidewalk, then the police could give them a ticket for blocking the public right-of-way."

City Councilman Ben Truwe supported canceling the Lawrence sidewalk segment because the sidewalk would lead to a dangerous corner at Juanipero, around which it's difficult for both pedestrians and drivers to see.

Paige Townsend, Rogue Valley Transportation District senior planner, said every street in Medford should have a sidewalk to encourage more pedestrian traffic and reduce traffic volume, fuel consumption and environmental impacts.

This is the fifth phase of sidewalk construction since Medford voters passed a $4.6 million bond measure in November 2004 called the Safe Sidewalks to Schools Improvement Project. The city also received $2.4 million in federal funding for new sidewalks.

City staff used five criteria for choosing the sidewalks to build first, including proximity to a school, student vehicle traffic, availability of alternative routes, vehicle traffic and cost per unit for construction, Crebbin said.

More than 50 of the 443 sidewalks city staff identified as needed for Medford elementary schools have been built, Crebbin said.

Reach reporter Paris Achen at 541-776-4459 or pachen@mailtribune.com.

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