By Jesse Wood
June 12, 2014. The Boone Town Council approved a town sidewalk priority list for 2014 at a council meeting in late May.
The 47-item list was recommended by the town’s Transportation Committee.
Below are the Top 10 sidewalk sections prioritized:
- N.C. 194 (from U.S. 421 to New Market Boulevard)
- Perkinsville Drive/Grove Street (From N.C. 194 to U.S. 421)
- State Farm Road Section 3 (From Sunnyside Drive to N.C. 105 Extension)
- Meadowview Drive (From Greenway Road to Blowing Rock Road)
- N.C. 105 Extension Section 1 (U.S. 321 to Azalea Drive)
- Poplar Grove Road (From Water Street to Poplar Grove Road Extension)
- U.S. 421 West (From current sidewalks to corporate limits)
- N.C. 105 Extension Section 2 (Azalea Drive to U.S. 421)
- Greenway Road Project Phase IV (Leola Street to Pride Drive)
- Greenway Road Project Phase II (Wilson Drive to Deck Hill Road)
During public comment before the approval of the list, citizen Jeff Templeton spoke before the council to attempt to expedite the construction of a few sections of sidewalk.
He said he was speaking on behalf of the 900 residents that live in the 11 apartment developments along Greenway Road, Leola Street and Meadowview Drive. Without direct AppalCART service, Templeton said those tenants are forced to use roads that don’t have sidewalks. He recounted a story of a lady “dodging cars” with a basket of goods while walking from Walmart to her residence at Bavarian Village and the numerous students he sees walking along Meadowview Drive everyday.
He said sidewalks along State Farm Road is a “luxury,” while the areas of Greenway Road, Leola Street and Meadowview Drive are a matter of “public safety.” After noting that the council members ran on a platform of walkable and sustainable communities, Templeton said for the council to “put their money where their mouths are” and move his suggestions to the top of the list.
Councilwoman Lynne Mason said that she saw a mother and young child walking the footpaths along State Farm Road and said, “Unfortunately there are needs throughout the community that we need to address.”
Interim Public Works Director Eric Gustaveson said that the Meadowview Drive priority was moved up from 9 to 4 because of the high usage.
Gustaveson mentioned that six more weeks of work are left on the State Farm Road section under Sidewalk Priority #3. He mentioned that depending on other Public Works priorities (other than sidewalks) the council has for his department, the Meadowview Drive section from Greenway Road to Blowing Rock Road could be at least started before the year ends.
He mentioned that the Meadowview Drive project wouldn’t be difficult because the town has right of way secured already – plus funding is available and there are no drainage issues. Leola Street, he said, would be tough because the town doesn’t have a right of way.
Click on the three separate images below to enlarge.
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