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Reeves Lane resident says Safe Routes to School plan deviated from approved design, cites safety incident
Summary
A Reeves Lane resident told Kennedale council that changes to the $1.4 million Safe Routes to School project removed sidewalks connecting local schools, introduced new blind-corner crossings, encroached into utility easements on private property, and corresponded with at least one child being struck by a car; he urged council accountability and compensation for affected owners.
At the Nov. 19 Kennedale City Council meeting, resident Chad Wandale detailed a string of complaints about the Safe Routes to School project, saying the built improvements bear “zero resemblance” to plans presented in public hearings.
Wandale said the original $1,400,000 scope would have connected three neighborhood schools by sidewalks; the constructed work, he said, connects none of the schools, added four crossings (two at a blind corner) and relocated sidewalks into utility easements on private property. “When I was on council, we approved the plans, and what we've got built today has 0 resemblance to what was presented to public hearings and voted on,” Wandale said. He told council the result created safety risks and that one child has already been hit by a car while crossing.
Wandale described property impacts—sidewalks inside utility easements and mispoured driveways—and said neighbors were not consulted or compensated when the public-side work encroached into owners’ land. He urged the council to determine who authorized the design changes, inspect the as-built work against approved plans, and ensure affected owners receive outreach and, if appropriate, compensation.
Council members did not resolve the issue during the meeting; the resident asked for prompt follow-up and greater responsiveness from staff to citizen complaints.
