MoDOT to help pay for Jackson sidewalk study

The city of Jackson take a closer look at its sidewalks within the next few months.

At a regular meeting of the Jackson Board of Aldermen Monday night, the board passed a motion supporting the city's application to the Missouri Department of Transportation for assistance in a sidewalk inventory and condition study. The city will pay 20 percent of the $9,000 sidewalk study and MoDOT will pick up the remaining costs through its Transportation Engineering Assistance Program.

The sidewalk study, which should get underway sometime after August, will generate a list of sidewalks in Jackson that are in need of repairs, and which ones have a greater need for repairs, said city administrator Jim Roach. "Each year we will determine how much money can be spent on sidewalk repairs and we'll start at the top of that list."

Roach said the city will set aside funds in its 2007 budget to start repairing sidewalks on the list.

"It's a great deal for the city," Roach said about MoDOT helping fund the sidewalk study. "They'll come here and physically inspect every sidewalk in the city."

Alderman Joe Bob Baker knows a lot of sidewalks in the city need repairs and believes it should be the city's responsibility to fix them.

"It will be nice to have that list. We'll be able to see which ones need to be repaired and which ones are a top priority," Baker said. "Eventually it will be nice to have them all fixed."

Within the last couple years, city officials have pushed for more sidewalks and recreation trails in Jackson.

Since 2004, the city of Jackson has created three miles of recreational trails for its residents. The city plans to build nine more miles of trails. The trails are part of Jackson's Comprehensive Recreational Trails Plan. A majority of the funding for the trails has come from various grants through MoDOT.

Two years ago, the city began offering incentives for subdivision developers: construct a sidewalk and the street doesn't have to be at the standard width. City regulations for street width say the street must be 38 feet wide but with a sidewalk constructed, the street only needs to be 32 feet wide.

"In a majority of the new subdivisions, sidewalks are going in," said Janet Sanders, planning and zoning superintendent. "A lot of the developers are even putting them on both sides of the streets."

MoDOT has even constructed a sidewalk along the widened portion of Highway 34/72 -- a safe link between Jackson's junior and senior high schools. And that's the one of the main reasons for the increased number of sidewalks in the city.

"Certainly it is a lot safer mode of transportation if you're not walking out in the street," Roach said.

The sidewalks also link together the schools, parks and neighborhoods in the city of more than 14,000 people.

"They hook the community together. More people are likely to get out there and walk if there are sidewalks available," Roach said.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246