In March of 2021, the Public Works Department received a resident request to install sidewalks along the 5000 – 4700 blocks of Maple Street from South Rice to 610. With no process in place to request new sidewalks, it was decided that the same petition process that residents could use to opt out of sidewalks during the Bonds for Better Bellaire 2016 sidewalk program could be used to opt in.
Bellaire resident Patricia Bernstein began the task of walking door to door talking with neighbors and getting signatures. On September 29 she presented a petition with 45 signatures from residents of Maple who live between S. Rice and 610, as well as residents of adjoining streets Will Jordan Way and Maple Ct. She explained that their blocks of Maple were the only street in the immediate vicinity of Bellaire High School that had no sidewalks. The petition highlighted heavy traffic, increased by new lights at Maple and Holly, along with many cars parked on the street that forced BHS students and neighbors into the middle of the street.
After much discussion Council voted unanimously for sidewalks to be installed on those blocks. The City estimates for the installation were $265,000 with $45,000 allocated for Design & Survey + Hydrological Study.
In the past the process for installing a sidewalk consisted of design, bid, and build, but with the passage of Prob A of the 2020 Charter Election, the process is more costly and will take much longer. Prop A states that “Detailed written information consisting of the exact location of such sidewalk in relation to all trees, landscaping, fencing, sprinkler systems and drainage lines, and a hydrological study performed by an independent engineer not otherwise affiliated with the city or the project, such written information to be provided to each home owner on or before the date that is (6) months prior to the city council’s consideration of the ordinance for construction of such sidewalk.”
The total time estimate to install the sidewalks is 750 days. Bellaire Public Works Director Mike Leech said that time may be lessened if some parts of the project can be done concurrently.
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