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Navajo County outlines ADA-accessible sidewalk project to improve student routes in Joseph City
Summary
Navajo County Engineer Will Flake presented a planned ADA-accessible sidewalk through much of Joseph City aimed at improving student safety; the project is being designed now, backed by a Transportation Alternatives grant and a CDBG grant, with bidding expected by year-end and construction likely early next year.
Will Flake, Navajo County engineer, told the Joseph City Unified District board that the county has hired an engineer to design an ADA-accessible sidewalk project running through much of Joseph City with the primary goal of improving routes for children traveling to and from school. “The main purpose is for children get to and from school,” Flake said during the presentation.
Flake said the county expects to use two grants for construction: a Transportation Alternatives grant and a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). He emphasized the design phase is still under way and could be tweaked after review, and that the county anticipates putting the project out for bid around the end of the year with construction “probably sometime early next year.” Cost estimates were not finalized and remain subject to change as design details are completed.
Board members focused on safety where the proposed sidewalk meets school operations. The superintendent and board members described a narrow elementary school road used for bus loading and parent pickup; they discussed options including widening the road, adding curb and a pull-out, and relocating a stop sign to improve sight lines and reduce congestion during drop-off and pick-up. The district’s bus transportation coordinator was present, and board members said they will coordinate design details and permits with the county if changes near the school are included in the contractor’s scope.
Flake described the project’s mapping conventions in more detail: pink areas indicate planned sidewalk; blue indicates ADA ramps connecting sidewalks to roadways; and yellow marks designated school crossings (enhanced crosswalks at four locations). He said some existing sidewalk segments would remain and be tied into the new work. Because the project uses federal funds in part, plans must undergo federal review and comment; Flake does not expect major design changes but said federal review could prompt technical adjustments.
The board asked about materials and durability; Flake said the sidewalks are expected to be concrete and likely reinforced for areas with vehicle crossings such as driveways. He also noted drainage and a road dip near the bus area that could affect design choices. Board members thanked the county representatives and said they would follow up on permitting, exact easement needs and possible design assistance to ensure the project meets district needs.
What happens next: the county will continue finalizing the designs and respond to review comments; the district and county will coordinate on whether additional sidewalk work near the elementary school’s bus loading/pickup zone should be included in the contractor scope. Bids are anticipated by the end of the year and construction is expected early next year, pending final design and procurement.
Provenance: Presentation and Q&A with Navajo County engineer Will Flake (topic intro SEG 145; topic finish SEG 416).
