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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-06-070 - Public Walkways Audit ) ~ Community Services ~ Report To: Date of Meeting: Submitted By: Prepared By: Ward(s) Involved: Date of Report: Report No.: Subject: Mayor Zehr & Members of Council July 4, 2006 Ken Currier, Director of Operations Ken Currier, Director of Operations Julie Dean, Safe City Coordinator Mike Henderson, Supervisor Engineering Asset Management All May 25, 2006 CSD-06-070 PUBLIC WALKWAYS AUDIT RECOMMENDATION: For information only. BACKGROUND: At the Council meeting of June 20, 2005 staff were requested to pursue an audit of municipal walkways through the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee (SHCAC) relative to residents concerns related to vandalism and safety issues. At the same time, the CSD Operations Division was working with the DTS Engineering Division to create an inventory of all municipal walkways and document the physical and functional requirements for each walkway. At this time it was determined that the two reviews could be combined and presented as a joint initiative as discussed in CSD, Walkways Audit Program Report 05-129. REPORT: The municipal walkways inventory for the City of Kitchener includes over 450 walkways throughout the city. The function of walkways is to provide pedestrian access from neighbourhood streets to other streets, parks, trails, schools and businesses. The walkways are comprised of a variety of configurations, many containing a sidewalk with turf along both sides and a type of limited access which prevents motorized vehicle access. The walkways are planned and designed during the initial phase of subdivision and are generally fenced off from neighbouring properties. Many contain trees or bushes which have migrated from neighbouring properties and some are lighted. The audit was conducted to look at walkways from two perspectives. 1. Physical condition and function - to determine if the walkways were in a condition to consider them for repair or replacement, recommend any changes to the annual maintenance and if walkways could be abandoned or declared surplus if they served little purpose. Report No: CSD-06-070 2. Second, to gather information that would assist in evaluating if the walkway was a potential safety concern and a target for vandalism, which should be further analyzed by the Safe City Coordinator. Audit Attributes Criteria The condition audit of the walkways was undertaken by the DTS Engineering team and looked at the following physical and functional attributes. The audit was completed from October 2005 to April 2006 at a time when the Engineering section could accommodate this additional work load 1. Primary use of the walkway. 1.1 Access to street, park, trail, hydro corridor, school or business 2. Walkway characteristics. 2.1 Surface material, barrier free, stairs, hand rails 2.2 Access control, bollards, gates, chains 2.3 Walkway width, length 3. Surrounding attributes 3.1 Drainage, retaining walls, 3.2 Utility corridor 4. Safety considerations 4.1 Fencing, lighting, visibility, vegetation 4.2 Graffiti, litter, evidence of misconduct Next Steos Each walkway has been photographed and mapped and will be linked to the corporate data base by a unique structure identifier number. The evaluation and rehabilitation of all walkways will be linked to the physical structure data and will take months to years to develop plans and acquire resources and funding to make improvements where necessary. To manage these tasks it is proposed that there be a short, medium and long term strategy assigned to the various components of evaluation and rehabilitation. Management of the walkway strategy will be in alignment with Councils previously adopted policy for sidewalk maintenance approved in 2003. Short Term (0-6 months) · Focus on the safety aspects of walkways and identify new safety concern locations for additional inspection and analysis. Report No: CSD-06-070 · Analyze 3 problematic locations for safety and vandalism concerns by the Safe City Coordinator · Track graffiti complaints specific to walkways · Begin to collect data from various sources to compile a walkway safety inventory ie. police, IIMS, SHCAC, Councillors · Remove graffiti on walkway attributes and include a trial period of removal on private property along the walkways. Install fence planting where possible to prevent further vandalism · Include walkways on trail riders routes · Create staff awareness related to the reporting of safety / vandalism concerns Medium Term (6-18 months) · Evaluate which walkways could be closed and not maintained during the winter months · Develop data inventory system for safety concerns · Continue to incorporate design standard changes to reduce maintenance, improve functionality and promote a greater emphasis on safety · Communicate with neighbours to encourage vandalism reporting and safety initiatives in neighbourhoods that are experiencing problems · Explore opportunities to expand the mural mentoring program to private property which abuts public space Long Term (18 - 36 months) · Identify walkways that could be permanently closed · Consult with the community on those walkways considered for closing · Identify capital funding requirements for future walkway improvements The attached map indicates locations throughout the city that Operations staff have responded to incidents of graffiti and vandalism during the last 2 years. The information suggests further investigation is warranted in the Forest - Rockway Ward so three locations were chosen to complete a more intense review in the area. The three locations have been identified and were reviewed for safety and vandalism concerns raised by area residents. An analyses by the Safe City Coordinator has revealed the following observations and that combined with the physical attribute audit resulted in the following recommendations for each area. These recommendations will be reviewed and implemented where possible 1. Walkwav: Butler Lane - Admiral Rd/Marlborouah The sightlines are somewhat compromised by wooden fences and landscaping along the sides of the abutting residences and there is no natural surveillance from any of the houses. There is a sign which reads "This walkway is under video surveillance. Vandalism subject to prosecution." The sign has a bit of marker graffiti on it, but the fence is free of graffiti. To help prevent future graffiti vandalism, recommend a planting of vines along the fence (as exists on Report No: CSD-06-070 the fence on the other side of the walkway). The shrubs at the park end have been cut back and there was no litter. There is a light at one end of the path which would not light the entire walkway - amount of "night" foot traffic should determine the need for additional lighting. 2. Walkwav: Greenbrook Drive - Villaae Road The creek channel that runs under this walkway provides a natural stopping point for all users of the walkway. The railings would be easy for people to climb over to go and sit, out of sight, overlooking the water. The evidence of litter in the area suggests this to be the case, in spite of "Please, no loitering, no littering" signs. To deter this activity, low thorny shrubs could be planted between the edge of the overhang and the railing. At the end of the bridge, the trees could be further cut back to improve sightlines. There is no lighting: If the walkway is heavily used during hours of darkness, lighting could be considered. 3. Walkwav: Cvoress Drive - Forest Hill Drive This walkway has almost no oversight from any houses in the area due to the lack of side windows and solid wooden fences. There are a set of steps with railings at the top and to each side which create a 'no man's land' between the steps and the wooden fences on both sides which is weedy, bare and feels abandoned. It is difficult to tell who owns the property or determine the extent of private and public property. Although there is a light, little reaches the stairs due to the overhanging tree canopy and the grade difference - pruning the trees would help the situation to some extent. Pedestrians spoken to during the site assessment said that in past years there had been problems with youths hanging out and drinking but that the situation had improved. Only one person said that they had seen beer bottles at the bottom of the stairway. Neighbours have informed that trespassing is an issue - as the railing is not keeping people away from private property, thorny plants could be installed in the area between the railing and private fences to discourage further attempts to enter the neighbour's yards. Bollards or other barriers could be installed at the top of the stairs to discourage people from riding bikes or pushing grocery carts down the stairs. Signage could also be added re: loitering and littering which would assist police in enforcement. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: During the first 18 months of examining all walkway locations there will be some additional operating costs associated with the removal of graffiti from privately owned walkway fences and the plantings. These additional expenses will be absorbed into the Operations operating budget and monitored to determine their impact on budget levels. Longer term expenses related to walkway rehabilitation and closures will be identified in the capital budget through the DTS/CSD budget requests. COMMUNICATIONS: Staff from Community Services and Development and Technical Services have worked together to initiate the audit of walkways. Future consultation with the public and local agencies will be necessary in locations where there may be recommendations coming forward to change or remove existing walkways. Design standard considerations will also be vetted through the Barrier Free Advisory Committee, DTS Planning Division as well as the local development industry. Report No: CSD-06-070 CONCLUSION: Walkways playa significant role in the safe movement of residents from neighbourhood to neighbourhood and providing access to our local trail systems. Although walkways are necessary they do present challenges for maintenance and the provision of safe environments for residents. The management of the physical attributes and safety concerns for all city walkways will be aligned through the three phase strategy and beyond. Involving the neighbourhoods which these walkways serve to create a culture of safety should continue to be a priority for the community. Ken Currier, Director of Operations Community Services Julie Dean Safe City Coordinator Mike Henderson, Supervisor Engineering Asset Management Development and Technical Services AP