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Bedford seeks public input on sidewalk master plan; staff prioritizes safety near schools and parks
Summary
City staff presented an early sidewalk master plan that focuses on safety, accessibility and connectivity. The plan includes an inventory, gap analysis and an interactive public map (QR/link) for residents to mark missing sidewalks, ramps and curb issues; staff asked council for direction on engagement timing and method.
City staff presented the initial phases of a sidewalk connectivity plan at the April 7 work session, emphasizing safety, accessibility and routes to schools and parks.
"The purpose of this plan really centers around safety, safe routes to, to walk, whether it's school parks and other facilities," the city engineer said while introducing the sidewalk plan. Staff described a phased approach: inventory and gap analysis, an existing-sidewalk assessment using IMS data, and public engagement through an interactive map that allows residents to flag missing sidewalks, ramps or curb issues.
Staff asked council to advise on the length and format of public engagement and offered to pre-populate the map with prior requests already submitted through other city request systems. Council members suggested combining online mapping with in-person map nights (for residents less likely to engage online) and asked staff to explore grants for school-area safety.
Staff noted the distinction between maintaining existing sidewalks and building new ones and said they will include cost estimates and potential grant sources in future materials. No final adoption or funding decision was requested at the work session; staff will return with an engagement plan and an updated timeline.
