East Maple Street is next on the agenda for paving streets in the City of Wayland, but this year’s project will be scaled back in terms of sidewalks.
East Maple, which runs three blocks to the east from North Main to Steeby Elementary, will have sidewalks only on the north side after a 7-0 vote of the City Council Monday night.
Council members said they felt sidewalks on the south side of the street, just a block north of East Superior, won’t be necessary because they will run into a fence at Steeby at the end of the street, where parents pick up children at a sort of cul de sac-parking lot.
Les Powers, who lives on East Maple, said, “Hardly anyone walks on it (the street). We see very little foot traffic.”
Powers and his wife insisted the real problem on East Maple is the congested traffic in the morning and afternoon when kids are being picked up, featuring too many cars parking on the road and even in residents’ driveways.
Council members said they believed that sidewalks on the south side are not necessary and simply add to the cost of the project.
Councilman Rick Mathis said, “I don’t think there’s a good reason to have a sidewalk to a fence.”
City Engineer Mickey Bittner said the local school district has agreed to consider altering the fence at Steeby to permit foot traffic but not motor vehicles at the end of the street.
The city customarily charges residents in the project area 50 percent of the cost of the concrete per square footage and installation and homeowners are given up to five years at 1 1/2% interest to pay over time. Sidewalks usually are included in all paving projects because of the “Complete Streets” policy the city usually follows.
The council noted there will be an open house and assessment hearing on the project before it begins.
Bittner said he plans to open bids for the construction project Feb. 15 and plans for work to begin as soon as school lets out for the summer.
Councilwoman Tracy Bivins said she would like to see installation of signs telling motorists they can use the street only temporarily for pickup of children and parking should discouraged.
Bittner said the street, besides adding a sidewalk on the north side, will have replacement of old water mains from Forrest Street to the school, addition of catch basins and asphalt overlay for the road. There will be no curb and gutter work.
