7/15/2005
Greenways, sidewalks add to livable communities

Opinion Letter to the Brandywine Community News
By Robert S. Weiner
2nd District Councilman

I consider building pathways, greenways and sidewalks for pedestrians and bicyclists to be one of my most important goals as a public official.
Having heard from many citizens who share my concern, have requested that our friends in the Delaware State Department of Transportation DELDOT) initiate a series of Shipley Road context sensitive design workshops to survey the community's preferences.

I have been asked by many concerned citizens to seek DELDOT support for pathways along Weldin Road and Baynard Boulevard as well.

With the addition of Blue Ball State Park amenities, Talley Day County Park enhancements (i.e. the library and bark park whose location at the park was as a result of my initiatives), the future Talleyville Girls Softball League at the Old Mill Lane School site (whose location at the site was as a result of my
initiative) and the general dangerous conditions that exist for our school children and adults, there is a great need to address the challenge of designing a context sensitive pathways along these roadways and others.

"Context sensitive designed (CSD) pathways" by definition are narrower than sidewalks. CSD pathways curve around existing trees and bushes. CSD
pathways recognize that we live in a mature community where we must make every effort to preserve our trees and bushes along the sides of our roads.
CSD pathways protect the scenic and historic character of our community roads.

I had previously championed the construction of a context sensitive designed pathway along Grubb Road. We now have received confirmation from the State Department of Transportation that funding has been approved for the engineering design of the Grubb Road context sensitive designed pathway.

However, there are still no funds appropriated for the construction of the Grubb Road pathway.

I had previously requested that the missing section of sidewalks along Foulk Road between the Lombardy School and the planned Blue Ball Park be constructed. I am pleased to advise that DELDOT is committed to build this missing sidewalk section despite recent budget cutbacks.

The addition of more pathways, greenways and sidewalks will make our community more livable. Citizens should not be held hostages to their motor vehicles with no other recourse to exit their subdivisions; being forced to retreat to the confines of a motor vehicle in order to safely leave and return to our communities.

We ought to be able to enjoy our environment, breath fresh and clean air, exercise, walk to visit friends and neighbors, walk to schools, churches,
stores and parks.

I have recently received a letter from the State Department of Transportation supporting my efforts in implement pathways along Shipley Road, Baynard Boulevard and Weldin Road.

The most effective thing that each citizen can do in support of pathway construction is to e-mail or write to Ralph Reeb, director of Planning, State Department of Transportation and also to write to your State Representative and State Senator to express your support for context sensitive designed pathways along Shipley Road, Baynard Boulevard, Weldin Road and Grubb Road. They are all very supportive of pathways but it will make their job easier to obtain support for these projects if they receive e-mails and letters of
support from citizens.

Also visit www.wilmapco.org and express your support to our regional Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) by e-mailing or writing to Heather
Dunigan and Tigist Zegeye.

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