Engineers present 30% plans for Seventh Street, Locust sidewalk projects; council raises ADA, drainage and business-access concerns

Ron Cardwell of MacArthur and Associates presented 30% design plans for two sidewalk projects on Oct. 6, laying out proposed pedestrian improvements on Locust Street and Seventh Street and explaining drainage, right-of-way and downtown-access considerations.

Cardwell said the Locust Street work will include a new ADA-accessible crossing near Fifteenth Street, replacement of failing ramps and sidewalk in the school corridor, and a plan to put sidewalk behind the roadside ditch where practical to avoid expensive curb-and-gutter work. He said the design calls for additional pipe capacity at a low point where water has flowed over the road in past storms.

On Seventh Street, Cardwell presented options for a continuous accessible route along the storefronts, including a raised curb adjacent to some buildings that would allow a flatter walking surface along the business district. He said some driveway and curb adjustments could be required, and that the work might reduce parking by one space in tight locations after the detailed design.

Why it matters: The projects are intended to provide safer, ADA-accessible pedestrian routes to schools and through the downtown business district but will require careful coordination with property owners, ODOT, and utilities to avoid extended disruptions to business access and to meet accessibility standards.

Council members asked about widening the roadway near the school and whether the project would take away parking. Cardwell said widening is outside the scope of the ODOT-funded sidewalk project and suggested working with the school district on parking options. He said matching the existing aggregate/pebble concrete in front of some downtown buildings would be difficult and might not meet ADA requirements; staff suggested the contractor might be asked to perform critical pours outside business hours to preserve access.

Cardwell said some right-of-way acquisition is likely near an apartment complex and that the city may not be able to finalize acquisitions until ODOT's NEPA approval process is complete. He noted the project is not expected to be advertised for bids until January 2027 and that costs could change before letting. The council requested 3-D or photographic renderings of the downtown corridor to share with affected businesses before final design.