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Parents and council push for sidewalks and safe‑routes funding around Bailey and Daley schools
Summary
Residents described crowded walking routes and removed temporary sidewalks near Bailey and Daley schools and urged the council to prioritize sidewalks and Safe Routes to School grant applications; the council asked the city manager for maps of designated school zones and to add the area to future sidewalk project lists.
Residents and councilors urged the Lowell City Council on Tuesday to prioritize sidewalks and traffic changes around the Bailey and Daley schools after a temporary pilot sidewalk was removed amid neighborhood complaints.
Catherine "Cathy" Dylan, a parent and neighborhood resident, told the council she has repeatedly raised the issue over three years. "The school zone starts at the front door and encompasses the campus and as many blocks possible that surround the school and have a high concentration of school generated traffic," she said, and added that some streets that carry students to the two schools lack crosswalks and sidewalks.
Councilors described an uneven sidewalk network near the schools and said state Safe Routes to School grants are available. Councilor Getchia noted the manual of uniform traffic control devices and MassDOT guidelines can limit where the city may place school‑zone signs, but Mayor Roark and Assistant City Manager Machado said engineering staff are evaluating options, including changing school entrances to create a safer circulation loop.
"We have our engineers looking at possibly changing the entrance of the Bailey and doing some kind of loop," Assistant City Manager Machado said. He also told the meeting the city's engineering page lists sidewalk projects and that eligibility for construction lists is based on ratings and road conditions.
Several councilors urged applying for state Safe Routes grants and requested the manager provide the council with the exact locations of any designated school zones around the Bailey and Daley campuses. Councilor Getchia also asked the auditor to review past lease payments related to the senior center property while expressing support for long‑term sidewalk improvements.
Action: the council voted to ask the city manager to provide any areas designated as school zones around the Bailey and Daley schools, including exact locations of the designations, and directed staff to put the project on future sidewalk lists if feasible. The council and speakers repeatedly urged pursuing Safe Routes to School funding.
Ending: Engineers will return with information; the city manager said staff will study possible entrance and circulation changes for the Bailey campus and provide project‑list timing.
