Transportation Committee considers sidewalk projects

FAYETTEVILLE — The city will get more than 6,000 feet of new sidewalk next year, with officials eyeing more pedestrian connections as part of a larger plan.

The Transportation Committee, consisting of half the City Council, on Tuesday forwarded a sidewalk project list for the full council to consider. Every year, the city compiles a list of sidewalk projects based on requests from residents. The Transportation Advisory Committee also reviewed the list.

The north side of Halsell Road from Cross to Oliver avenues is the biggest proposed stretch, about 1,100 feet. Oliver Avenue also would get 650 feet of sidewalk from the intersection with Halsell Road to Maple Street.

Council Member Kyle Smith of Ward 4 said he received feedback from residents not wanting a sidewalk there. The council appointed Smith to his position Nov. 21. Tuesday’s meeting was Smith’s first since former Ward 4 Council Member Alan Long resigned.

“I’m in the weird position of not having been around long enough to have gotten much comment from anyone about anything except for about how I got here,” Smith said. “Except for this sidewalk.”

Council Member Matthew

Petty said the area has been put on the list and taken off over the course of a few years in past committee meetings. An upcoming mobility study, in development from consultants Nelson/Nygaard, will provide data to help city officials better prioritize connections, he said.

“Sometimes those complaints are very legitimate and should change a decision,” Petty said. “Other times those sidewalk requests might be on an important connection that’s going to be of a benefit to a lot of other people.”

The committee forwarded the list as proposed unanimously. Petty said Smith could add any changes during the full council meeting.

City Engineer Chris Brown said a draft of the mobility study should be ready for public review by early next year. The plan has been in development since April, which will include recommendations on how to best accommodate different modes of travel with the city’s growing population.

The committee also forwarded to the council about 10 miles of proposed asphalt overlay on city roads. Major stretches include Joyce Boulevard from College Avenue to Vantage Drive, Salem Road from the city limit to Mount Comfort Road, Huntsville Road from Wood Avenue to Happy Hollow Road and Maple Street from West to College avenues.