©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Northland Subdivision Residents Strongly Oppose Sidewalks Plan |
Galesburg city officials sought public input for a proposed sidewalk project for a city neighborhood, and that's what they got.
Residents of the Northland Subdivision and others packed the Gale School Library Monday night to hear from state and local officials about the benefits of the state transportation department's Safe Routes to School program. The project, paid for with a $268,000 federal grant, would be for Dayton Drive, West Dayton Street, Park View Road and Brentwood Avenue.
Residents came out strongly opposed to the project, saying it's not needed because traffic counts are low, very few students walk through the neighborhood and dozens of trees would be lost. Galesburg alderman Mike Lummis says residents of the subdivision who've talked to him are overwhelmingly against the installation of sidewalks.
"I'm now in excess of 75 properties and approaching about 95 different signatures of people who do not want the sidewalks. It wasn't a survey of such, it was basically 'I'm for it or I'm against it', and I have had three calls from people who were in favor. So right now it's 75 to 3."
Lummis, one of six aldermen in attendance at the public hearing, says he'll vote against the proposed project when it comes before the city council, likely in three or four weeks.
The Safe Routes to School program is designed to provide safe biking and walking routes for children to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle at an early age.
The group heard from proponents of the plan, like District 205 Assistant Superintendent Paul Woehlke, Michele Fishburn of the Knox County Health Department and SRTS Coordinator Megan Holt. Holt says the Northland Subdivision project scored the highest out of 44 submitted by the city and was one of the highest scoring projects in the state.
The project, if rejected by the city council, cannot be transferred to another area in the city, and the money will go back to the state.
A large group gathered at the Gale School library to hear local and state officials discuss the proposed Safe Routes to School sidewalk project for the Northland Subdivision.
(Story and photo by WGIL's Mike Perry) |
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| 01 12 09 by Newsroom |
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