Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tide To Town topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears Tide to Town trail plan and West Side connectivity priorities; equity concerns raised
Summary
City planners outlined the Tide to Town trail network and Canal District connections, and council members urged measures to prevent displacement, requested more sidewalks and lighting, and encouraged staff to pursue a Stiles Avenue safety grant.
Savannah planners presented an update on the Tide to Town trail network and connectivity work for the Canal District and West Side neighborhoods. Bridget Liddy (speaker 8), director of planning and urban design, said the Tide to Town product focuses on equitable access to schools, jobs, parks and transit and identifies priority neighborhoods within a roughly half‑mile of the planned trail.
Liddy described tied connections—East‑West and North‑South linkages—and noted staff submitted a grant for approximately $7,000,000 to improve Stiles Avenue north of the railroad to improve safety and capacity. She said staff will report back on grant outcomes in a March meeting and continue coordinating corridor design with stormwater and trail partners.
Council members pressed for stronger protections against displacement and asked that equity policies and community benefit measures be adopted alongside trail investment. One council member noted prior research showing trails can lead to gentrification and urged the city to establish policy tools in advance. Members also requested more lighting, call boxes and inspection or maintenance plans for trail sections and asked staff to consider pervious/natural trail surfaces where appropriate while maintaining ADA accessibility.
Next steps: staff will continue grant work, bring updates on Stiles Avenue and connected trail segments, and include neighborhood stakeholders in design and implementation discussions.
