City targets sidewalks, pathways

SANDPOINT — There are 50 miles of sidewalks, approximately 800 curb ramps, and nearly 10 miles of multi-use pathways within Sandpoint city limits.

“We have a lot of sidewalks, but we have a lot of gaps, and a lot of gaps in connectivity,” said Sandpoint Public Works Director Amanda Wilson during the Dec. 19 City Council meeting.

City staff recently initiated a master planning process to address challenges in Sandpoint’s sidewalk and pathway infrastructure, in accordance with council’s 2018-2020 strategic plan.

One of the biggest factors driving the master plan is safety, she said. Smart Growth America published a report of 114 pedestrian deaths in Idaho between 2005-2014. It’s been nearly 10 years since a pedestrian was killed by a motor vehicle in Sandpoint, Wilson said, but there have been injuries and near misses. Sandpoint Police reports 19 injuries caused by bicycle and vehicle collisions over that past 10 years.

Another factor in the master planning process is the City Code. Wilson said the current City Code, Title 7, Chapter 3, for sidewalk construction and maintenance is challenging to interpret, complex to enforce, and “lacks the necessary flexibility to adjust for physical conditions such as drainage, topography and other landscape features.” The gaps in pathway connectivity is one challenge resulting from the City Code conundrum.

Other challenges include concerns about equity and fairness regarding necessity and cost structure for new construction of sidewalks; a lack of clear expectations regarding responsibilities and standards for maintenance, repair, and snow removal of sidewalks and pathways, resulting in safety/ADA and enforcement challenges; and performance measures and benchmarks have not been established nor monitored, Wilson said. Before developing the master plan, city staff will work to improve the City Code to provide clarity, consistency and fairness, she said.

Beginning in January, a mayor-appointed citizen advisory committee will be established to provide feedback on staff recommendations to City Code. Wilson said all members the Sandpoint Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Committee have been asked to participate on the committee, and invites the community to apply as well. The application can be found online at bit.ly/2Q2NgXs or stop by City Hall, 1123 Lake St., to submit an application in person. The deadline to apply for the citizen advisory committee is Jan. 5.

In addition, Wilson said a survey has been set up to help staff gain a better understanding of people’s experience using the existing Sandpoint sidewalks and pathways infrastructure and the walkability of the community. The online survey can be accessed at bit.ly/2rQVmsD, or through the Engage Sandpoint app. The OpenGov “story” for the sidewalks and pathways master planning process can be accessed through those channels as well.

The sidewalks and pathways master plan will be developed between the spring of 2019 and spring of 2020. Establishing a clear management tool for achieving goals, Wilson said, will enable staff to make “well-informed” decisions, and gives them a blueprint to work with.

“Personally, this subject is near and dear to me because my very first week with the city, which isn’t all that long ago, it became clear just how important this conversation regarding sidewalks and pathways is to so many citizens,” Wilson said. “… since that first week, the true complexity of the issues have become more apparent by the day.”

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.