Janet, a Town of Brookfield resident, has lived in the Elmbrook area for nearly 40 years and is an avid gardener and volunteer. Her blog focuses on the city and town of Brookfield – past, present and future.
When driving down the city streets, start looking for sidewalks and pathways alongside the roads. If you travel Bluemound Road, you’ll notice them.
To me, there are not enough pedestrians to warrant sidewalks. I question the allocation of resources. But, I learned many things when researching this topic with a city engineer.
Residents in Brookfield value these concrete and asphalted paths. A recent city survey indicates pedestrian paths are one of the most requested services citizens want. Sidewalks are appropriate and designed to keep pedestrians (cyclists and mom’s with strollers) safe.
Sidewalks or pathways (within the public way and off road) are paved in concrete or asphalt. Concrete sidewalks are near urban arterial roads. Asphalt pathways are near rural arterials. Off road paths (forming the greenway corridors) are usually asphalt.
Sidewalks are required when roads are built with state and/or federal funds. The common council approves sidewalks within the public way along roads built without state and/or federal funds. Off road paths are approved by Park and Recreation.
The city currently keeps the sidewalks free of ice and snow. There is an ordinance, though, that adjacent property owners are responsible for keeping the sidewalks clear.
Now we all know about sidewalks. They are highly desired by city residents. When state and federal funding is involved, they are mandatory. Adjacent property owners may need to clear ice and snow from the sidewalks if and when the city enforces its existing ordinance.
I failed to ask whether sidewalks are required on both sides of a road. Perhaps you’d like to call the City Engineering Department. Please let us know.
More on Frame of Reference
My Frame of Reference article last week caught someone’s attention. My intent was to subtly encourage city officials to consider how their decisions do (or will) impact area residents.
Now, on to one reader’s comments:
“My frame of reference is a little wider than yours. However, I also travel Calhoun Road frequently. I find I’m either being pushed to go way over the speed limit by the car behind me or I just move along at a speed that seems right for the wide freeway-type pavement.
I question how much safer Calhoun road will be when the next section is widened with faster traffic closer to those homes. The city seems determined to bring more and more traffic to our community.
The few walkers I see certainly don’t warrant the need for sidewalks on both sides of the street. Those “City in the Countryside” banners in front of city hall must be ‘tongue in cheek.’”
