Comments on: Will and Won’t http://www.neohouston.com/2009/01/will-and-wont/ advocating urbanism in the opportunity city Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:06:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Dave Morris http://www.neohouston.com/2009/01/will-and-wont/#comment-100 Dave Morris Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:02:01 +0000 http://neohouston.wordpress.com/?p=327#comment-100 I found the the Safe Sidewalk Program on the City of Houston's website, and it looks like there are three categories for considering sidewalk improvement - schools/children, major thoroughfare safety, and people with disabilities: http://documents.publicworks.houstontx.gov/latest/safe-sidewalk-program-ssp.htm It looks like a good place to start would be the FAQ: http://documents.publicworks.houstontx.gov/documents/divisions/ecd/safesidewalk_faq_52008.pdf my personal favorite: How long does it typically take from request to construction? Typically, initial evaluation is 30 days, field evaluation is 90 days, design is 180 days, advertisement and approvals are 60 days, and construction is 180 to 365 days. I found the the Safe Sidewalk Program on the City of Houston’s website, and it looks like there are three categories for considering sidewalk improvement – schools/children, major thoroughfare safety, and people with disabilities:

http://documents.publicworks.houstontx.gov/latest/safe-sidewalk-program-ssp.htm

It looks like a good place to start would be the FAQ:

http://documents.publicworks.houstontx.gov/documents/divisions/ecd/safesidewalk_faq_52008.pdf

my personal favorite:

How long does it typically take from request to construction?
Typically, initial evaluation is 30 days, field evaluation is 90 days, design is 180 days, advertisement and approvals are 60 days, and construction is 180 to 365 days.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.neohouston.com/2009/01/will-and-wont/#comment-99 Andrew Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:39:40 +0000 http://neohouston.wordpress.com/?p=327#comment-99 I'm not aware of a City of Houston contact whose job is just to work on sidewalks. There may be such a person, though, if anyone knows about that please let us know. As for using 311... I'm skeptical that it would do much. Honestly, and this is just speculation so I may be wrong, it seems to me that the city doesn't consider sidewalk maintenance a high priority, and that they wouldn't do anything about a complaint from a resident. If you're a property owner and you complained enough, they might do something. The reason I say I don't think they care much is that I know there are a lot of vocal people in Midtown who try to get sidewalks fixed all the time. The management district vocally advocates for that type of investment. The Management District got the Elgin Street and McGowen Street improvements done. But they aren't the City, and they can only do so much... That said, I still think it's a good idea to call things in. It never hurts to let the City know you care, and if enough people keep calling, eventually some priorities might change. There are politicians at the top of the system, after all. I’m not aware of a City of Houston contact whose job is just to work on sidewalks. There may be such a person, though, if anyone knows about that please let us know.

As for using 311… I’m skeptical that it would do much. Honestly, and this is just speculation so I may be wrong, it seems to me that the city doesn’t consider sidewalk maintenance a high priority, and that they wouldn’t do anything about a complaint from a resident.

If you’re a property owner and you complained enough, they might do something.

The reason I say I don’t think they care much is that I know there are a lot of vocal people in Midtown who try to get sidewalks fixed all the time. The management district vocally advocates for that type of investment. The Management District got the Elgin Street and McGowen Street improvements done. But they aren’t the City, and they can only do so much…

That said, I still think it’s a good idea to call things in. It never hurts to let the City know you care, and if enough people keep calling, eventually some priorities might change. There are politicians at the top of the system, after all.

]]> By: kevin whited http://www.neohouston.com/2009/01/will-and-wont/#comment-98 kevin whited Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:16:51 +0000 http://neohouston.wordpress.com/?p=327#comment-98 ** Well, for starters, you can fix the sidewalks. Fortunately, McGowen is recognized as a vital transit connection and will get reworked sidewalks in the same style as the improvements on Elgin street. The street and sidewalks will be under re-construction very soon. There should be more of that investment all over Houston. Sidewalks are part of the public right-of-way, and are equally important as traffic lanes. ** Amen to this! A city that aims to be more walkable should regard sidewalks as an important component of achieving the goal. Here's a question for you and/or readers -- Is there any single person at the CoH that one can contact about sidewalk repairs/problems? I frequently use the 311 email address (and CC the Mayor's Office) to notify the city of problems that need attention (potholes, graffiti, signage, etc), but I have to admit I've never used 311 to report sidewalk problems. Do you think that would be effective? Or is there perhaps a designated contact person in the CoH? ** Well, for starters, you can fix the sidewalks. Fortunately, McGowen is recognized as a vital transit connection and will get reworked sidewalks in the same style as the improvements on Elgin street. The street and sidewalks will be under re-construction very soon. There should be more of that investment all over Houston. Sidewalks are part of the public right-of-way, and are equally important as traffic lanes. **

Amen to this! A city that aims to be more walkable should regard sidewalks as an important component of achieving the goal.

Here’s a question for you and/or readers — Is there any single person at the CoH that one can contact about sidewalk repairs/problems?

I frequently use the 311 email address (and CC the Mayor’s Office) to notify the city of problems that need attention (potholes, graffiti, signage, etc), but I have to admit I’ve never used 311 to report sidewalk problems. Do you think that would be effective? Or is there perhaps a designated contact person in the CoH?

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