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West Linn Youth Advisory Council urges city to prioritize sidewalk connectivity and safety
Summary
Members of the West Linn Youth Advisory Council presented a recommendation to the City Council calling for more funding and planning to repair, extend and connect sidewalks—particularly in older neighborhoods—to improve safety and access for children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Members of the West Linn Youth Advisory Council told the City Council on Feb. 18 that gaps and poor maintenance in the city’s sidewalk network make walking and biking unsafe for students, seniors and people with disabilities.
The youth presentation, delivered by council members including Brooklyn Car Lawyer, Misha Rana, Ruby Fassett and Zachary Santoso, highlighted several neighborhoods where sidewalks are broken or missing — including portions of Bolton, Cedar Oak, Pimlico and Rosemont Road — and urged the council to increase funding for sidewalk repairs and connectivity projects.
The youths noted that many younger residents rely on walking and bicycling because they cannot drive. “We want parents of our city to feel safe letting their kids walk to school,” Ruby Fassett said. The group pointed to specific hazards: sidewalks that end abruptly, cracked or narrow pathways that do not meet accessibility standards, and bus stops that lack adjacent sidewalks so riders must step into the street.
The Youth Advisory Council tied its recommendation to the city’s adopted transportation goals — safety, mobility and access, equity and maintenance — and asked the council to include sidewalk connectivity in upcoming transportation funding discussions. Council members and Mayor Saskia Bielandszkowski responded positively: Council President Baumgardner said the youth testimony was “awesome and very timely,” and the mayor said the council will use the recommendation in upcoming joint discussions with the Transportation Advisory Board.
Councilors acknowledged the financial constraints involved in building and maintaining sidewalks. Councilor Bonington reminded the council that a backlog of proposed sidewalk projects exceeds 100 items and that funding will determine how quickly the city can address those needs. Several councilors suggested near-term steps such as targeted maintenance, “slow streets” signage and better shared-street treatments in neighborhoods where full sidewalk construction would be costly.
The council invited the Youth Advisory Council to participate in a joint meeting with the Transportation Advisory Board planned for April 21 to present testimony and to help shape the city’s funding priorities for sidewalks and road improvements.
The presentation ended with the youth asking the city to prioritize safe, accessible sidewalks “so our seniors and kids and people with disabilities can walk safely around the city,” and council members thanking them for their work and asking staff to keep them involved as the transportation program advances.
