Talks continue on sidewalks

SANDPOINT - With the fate of the LID ordinance undecided after several trips to the council, the city held another workshop Monday to discuss various sidewalk-related topics.

Pedestrian/bicycle coordinator for the Idaho Transportation Department, Mark McNeese, discussed the issues and answered questions for nearly two hours at city hall on subjects ranging from funding options to Americans with Disabilities Act regulations for sidewalk width.

Throughout his presentation, McNeese spoke about the importance of sidewalks in terms of community heath and safety, as well as for maintaining social neighborhoods.

“Most neighborhood walking is not done for utilitarian purposes, but for social purposes,” he said.

McNeese stressed the importance of building sidewalks wide enough to allow people to comfortably walk next to each other or to pass in opposite directions.

A sticking point in the city's ongoing struggle to pass the 2008 LID has been sidewalk width, with some members asking for four-foot instead of five-foot sidewalks.

McNeese said that very few communities in Idaho have, or are pushing for, four-foot sidewalks.

“Do we do the bare minimum, or do we do a little more?” he said. “I believe that great communities have great facilities.”

Much of the workshop focused on the ADA and what is required for compliance with the act.

While he admitted there is no specific requirements for sidewalk width, McNeese said four feet of “clear space” is needed to be in agreement with the ADA.

According to McNeese, cities that have ignored ADA rules have paid a hefty price. He pointed to several areas, including Sacramento, Calif., and communities in New York and Utah which have either lost lawsuits or settled out of court for ADA-related infractions.

As has been the case in similar workshops and council meetings, participants were eager for a solution to the financial burden that they believe sidewalks cause.

McNeese said he had no answer to the question of added costs on citizens, but said that every area has residents on a fixed income, yet communities are still able to install sidewalks.

“(People on a fixed income) have always been with us and they always will be with us. It will only get worse when the baby boomers get older,” he said.

Sandpoint has previously received funds from the ITD Enhancement program, and McNeese said it would be possible to get more funding to help offset sidewalk costs.

The council will attempt to finalize a solution to the LID at its March meeting.