Marion Martin Pline letter re: JFK SidewalksAugust 7, 2007
RE~F~vFr~
0? AUG 17 AM 8~ 30
Mayor Roy Buel
2640 Becker Court
Dubuque lA 52001 Clty Cleo ~ S Uff1Ce
Qubu~~e, iA
Dear Mayor Buel;
I have attended both council meetings regarding the installation of sidewalks along JFK and I also
with my husband attended the meetings that were held 9 years ago regarding sidewalks which had
an unanimous vote `No' and we were told this. would not be addressed again.
In the 9 years that I have resided at 2690 Marywood Drive, I have not worked out of the home,
and am seldom gone more than a day or two at a time. I can honestly tell you that there have been
few children over the years that have walked unattended along JFK.
If sidewalks were in place along JFK, it would not be a safe route for children going on foot to
school any time of the year. There is a stop light at Asbury and another at Northwest Arterial
(except the crosswalk light at Eisenhower school that is activated by a pedestrian); the traffic is
usually going at a greater speed than what is posted.
The grade alongside our home is steep and we have had many vehicles loose control and end up
over the curb and onto the grass. The stop sign was taken out by someone last spring.
I would like to address the issue of the group home residents on Marywood Drive. Monday
through Friday there are two or three who walkup Marywood to the bus stop. If you were going
to do these people a favor the bus stop would be moved to the corner of JFK and Raven. Oaks.
Over the years, I have noted what a difficult time most have had in getting up Marywood. I walk it
every day and it is a steep grade and for someone with a handicap or difficulty in breathing; it must
be a terrible struggle to get up Marywood to the bus stop.
If they walked from the home on Marywood to the Crissy Trail and up Raven Oaks to JFK, it
would be an easier walk, the same distance and sidewalks are in place.
Having the bus stop on top of the hill is an accident waiting. to happen. Regardless of the tithe of
year, when the bus stops drivers behind the bus will pull out into the turn lane to pass the bus and
not know what is coming over the hill. In the winter, vehicles stopping on the hill behind the bus
have a difficult time moving again.
Most days we will have two or three people walking alongside our home, we do not have a well
worn path as has been stated; and there are days when we see no walkers.
The biggest issue for me is having to maintain a sidewalk on a steep hillside, the snow plow goes
at a great speed and if we have any kind of snowfall; it goes often. The sidewalk I have at the
corner of Marywood and JFK, I can keep cleaned off until the plow goes by and then it just gets
buried in very deep slush that I cannot shovel or blow. ,
,.
1 ,,~.~
Marion Martin Pliner ~ 2690 Marywood Dr, ~ Dubuque, Iowa 52001