Sidewalks




			One of the most important things about this topic is the safety of our residents and most importantly the children of this city. As our city begins to grow by leaps and bounds, the traffic within our city increases as well. This is certainly a safety issue. Within the last 2 years alone, we have issued over 800 new home construction building permits. As many of us have already taken notice to.....the traffic within our borders is out of control.




			Unfortunately, as most of us who have children have already witnessed at one time or another, is the issue of a school levy not passing and the schools removing busing to any student living within 2 miles of school. With the growing population and increased traffic, this is a huge problem and a major safety issue in our city. At the very minimum, we need sidewalks on the major streets within a 2 mile radius of schools. This would help in the safety of children in the event that this situation ever comes into play again.




			The first step is to create, and initiate a sidewalk plan. Currently, no such plan exists. I would stress the fact that major streets containing the heaviest traffic, be taken care of initially. For example, Lorain Rd., Root Rd. (south of Lorain), Chestnut Ridge, Avon Belden or (Rte. 83). Sugar Ridge Rd. should be looked at as well because of the sports complex that is adjacent to it. These would go into a priority 1 status. Other less traveled roads would fall into a secondary status. Center Ridge, although contains heavy traffic would be set on hold for the completion of the widening project. The goal would be to have, at the very least, a sidewalk on one side of these mentioned roadways, for pedestrian safety.




			Currently, there is a sidewalk fund. These funds can only be used for what they were paid into. We need to look more into how and where these sidewalks can be built and BUILD THEM. Then, if need be, we connect the dots so to speak and try to get sidewalks throughout our city. Why should only the new neighborhoods have sidewalks? Shouldn't we all have a safe place to walk? Every citizen should be able to safely walk within the borders of North Ridgeville. With the increasing traffic, this is an issue that is long overdue and needs attention.