Sidewalks Middle School Area
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MEMORANDUM
November 8, 2004
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Middle School Sidewalk Area
Update to September 1 , 2004
On August 2, 2004, the Dubuque Community School District requested the City
investigate and require sidewalks in certain areas surrounding the school zone for safe
access to the new Middle School.
The Engineering Department has reviewed the area bounded by Radford Road,
Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest Arterial and Asbury Road for potential routes for
sidewalk access. It is the Engineering Department's recommendation that the sidewalk
network be completed by requiring installation of sidewalks as follows:
. The north side of Pennsylvania Avenue, from Iowa 32 to Radford Road;
. The east side of Radford Road from Pennsylvania Avenue to the Asbury city
limits; and
. From the Middle School property, northerly, on the west side of Radford Road to
the Asbury city limits. The City of Asbury currently has sidewalk installed to its
city limits on Radford Road.
This recommendation includes all of the sidewalks requested by the Dubuque
Community School District, as well as a sidewalk on the east side of Radford Road from
Camelot Drive to Asbury city limits.
A letter was received on August 22, 2004 from Mary Janice Giesler requesting that the
City Council consider sidewalk installation on both sides of Radford Road and
Pennsylvania.
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I respectfully recommend Mayor and City Council approval of the sidewalk installation
as recommended by the Engineering Department.
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Michael C. Van Milligen --
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, Acting Public Works Director/City Engineer
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MEMORANDUM
November 8, 2004
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager Q
Gus Psihoyos, Acting Public Works Director YJ. .
TO:
SUBJECT: Middle School Sidewalk Area
Update to September 1, 2004
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum is an updated response to a request from the Dubuque
Community School District to investigate the areas surrounding the new Middle
School site for potential sidewalk routes.
BACKGROUND
On August 2, 2004, the Dubuque Community School District requested the City
to investigate and require sidewalks in certain areas surrounding the school zone
for safe access to the new Middle School.
DISCUSSION
The Engineering Department has reviewed the area bounded by Radford Road,
Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest Arterial, and Asbury Road for potential routes
for sidewalk access.
The attached maps show the main routes anticipated to be utilized for school
access and those areas that do not have sidewalks. It is the Engineering
Department's recommendation that the sidewalk network be completed by
requiring installation of sidewalks as follows:
. The north side of Pennsylvania Avenue, from Iowa 32 to Radford Road;
. The east side of Radford Road from Pennsylvania Avenue to the Asbury city
limits; and
. From the Middle School property, northerly, on the west side of Radford Road
to the Asbury city limits. The City of Asbury currently has sidewalk installed to
its city limits on Radford Road.
This recommendation includes all of the sidewalks requested by the Dubuque
Community School District as well as a sidewalk on the east side of Radford
Road from Camelot Drive to Asbury city limits.
At the 1998 City Council meeting when Radford Road Reconstruction Project
was approved, sidewalk installation was delayed until the point in time of
development that would warrant sidewalk installation. The areas in need of
installation comprise residential and commercial zoned areas, existing lots, and
areas developed with new site plans and new subdivisions (some requiring
assessments and some requiring plan enforcement).
The Engineering Department is recommending that the Department proceed with
the design of the sidewalk installation as shown on the attached map. The
Dubuque Community School District is anticipating occupancy in August, 2005.
This would provide the Engineering Department the winter months to develop the
project for City Council consideration and initiation of construction prior to the
opening of the school.
A petition has been received on August 22, 2004 from Mary Janice Giesler
requesting that the City Council consider sidewalk installation on both sides of
Radford Road and Pennsylvania.
The Engineering Department historically has used an evaluation process that
includes consideration of the following criteria for the installation of sidewalks:
pedestrian attractions, vehicle traffic, developments, tree and grading issues, and
availability of right-of-way. An unsafe condition exists any time pedestrians are
forced to walk in the street
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
The Engineering Department requests direction on the question of sidewalk
installation at the new Middle School.
cc: Jane Smith - Engineering
Ron Turner - Engineering
Kelly Ambrosy - Engineering
Attachs.
RELATED ITEM
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August 22, 2004
Mr. Michael Van Milligan, City Manager
Dubuque City Council
City Hall
13" & Central
Dubuque,lA 52001
Re:
Sidewalks on Radford and Pennsylvania Roads
Dear Mr. Van Milligan and members of the Cil,y Council:
This is NOT just a school issue.
Sidewalks are needed for all the residents of this area.
I took special interest in the comment from Gus Psihoyos that you were considering no
sidewalks on the south side of Pennsylvania. With all the new construction near Middle
Road and Seippel Road there is a big increase in vehicle traffic.
We have many, many walkers and joggers in our neighborhood. It is extremely
dangerous to the pedestrian because they have to either walk in the gutters or fight the
weeds and overgrown grass on the walk area. It's also a hazard for the driver of a
vehicle.
We need sidewalks on AU- sides of these streets. Now is the time to do the installation
properly and completely.
Please require sidewalks on all sides of Radford Road and Pennsylvania Road.
Thank you for your consideration of this issue.
Sincerely,
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Mary Janice Giesler
2310 Higb Cloud Dr.
Dubuque, IA 52002