Legally blind woman grades Wooster sidewalks
WOOSTER – When Beth Beatty began losing her vision 13 years ago, she knew there would come a day when she would no longer be able to drive.
That day came four years ago after she failed her driving test. It was a difficult time for Beatty, who felt as if she also lost her freedom.
The former Shreve resident moved within the Wooster city limits where transportation is more accessible. Since then, Beatty has been an advocate for transportation issues and working to ensure all residents have access to public transportation.
Beatty, who serves as the chair of the Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee with Community Action Wayne/ Medina, volunteered to conduct walking audits throughout Wayne County. The city resident has taken an in-depth look at 20 locations in Wooster and Shreve with more planned in Wooster and Orrville. These walking audits take a look at the conditions of the sidewalks and surrounding area as well as pedestrian crossing in adjacent streets.
“It’s so easy to get in your car and go where you want to go,” Beatty said. “When you can’t, it just changes your life. I wasn’t going to stand back because I understand their worries and their needs.”
Leslie Baus, Wayne County mobility coordinator with Community Action, said the walking audits, which are part of AARP Livable Communities, came to her attention last year.
Despite the challenges she faces due to vision loss, Beatty didn’t hesitate to volunteer when Baus mentioned the walking audits.
“I want to do any single thing I’m capable of,” Beatty said.
The AARP walking tours were a great way to draw attention to the condition of the sidewalks, Baus explained.
Beatty was provided with an AARP toolkit, which gave her key points to observe during the audit. The audit has several areas of focus, including crossing streets and intersections, sidewalk conditions, driver behavior, safety and comfort and appeal. Beatty observes the walkability of the area she is auditing through the eyes of a senior citizen, a child and someone with a disability.
The walkability of Wooster is especially important because there is a dedicated bus route with stops, Baus said. The audits can ensure the walking routes to those bus stops are safe, she said.
Baus had a friend who tripped on uneven pavement and injured her jaw, making this an important issue for her.
“I walk a lot, so I’m very aware of the condition of sidewalks,” Baus said. “... This is something I care about. It really needs to be address.”
The county has been working to improve transportation access.
Community Action Wayne/medina and the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) will jointly administer and coordinate a program targeting residents that need rides to work, medical appointments or local court appearances.
Wayne County commissioners launched a survey earlier this year to ask county residents what transportation services they needed, The Daily Record reported in September. Nearly 750 people and 52 business representatives participated in the survey, which will be used to develop a plan for the pilot program scheduled for early 2021.
The programing received $1.4 million in grants awarded by the Ohio Department of Transportation. The area’s private transportation providers will have the opportunity to submit proposals to provide the service.
In 2018, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey found 10.9% of Wooster resident ages 16 and older commuted to work either by cycling or walking.
City Development Coordinator Jonathan Millea said nearly 74% of respondents to a survey that was part of the city’s comprehensive plan ranked connectivity by sidewalks, bike paths or trails either “somewhat important” or “very important.”
The city has been working to improve connectivity by linking existing bike paths via new trails on Portage Road and Oldman, Burbank, and Friendsville roads.
The city has continued to actively search for grants to continue the bike trail project, Millea said.
As a result of Beatty’s walking audits, the building standards division has inspected and notified property owners regarding the lack of maintenance of their sidewalks, said Tim Monea, Wooster’s chief building official.
The city adopted the International Property Maintenance Code to establish minimum standards for all properties and external property areas in Wooster, Monea said.
In nearly all of the cases, trees and other vegetation had grown into the sidewalk causing problems, he said. The owners took care of the issues after being notified, Monea said.
Though the audits can be a lengthy process with Beatty spending at least three hours observing an intersection, it has been more than worth it, she said. Reach Samantha at 330-287-1626 On Twitter: @Samanthakickes