$2.2 Million for Street and Sidewalk Repairs

Does the sidewalk or street on your block need repair? The City wants to hear from you.

The Palo Alto City Council will consider allocating $2.2 million to accelerate street maintenance and sidewalk repair projects this year. A vote on the funding is expected at today’s council meeting.

If approved, this year's total repair budget will be bumped up to $4.7 million. The City will continue with projects that were already planned but will seek input from residents on how to spend the extra money. Make sure the City hears your pet peeve.

“I hear more about street and sidewalk repair needs than any other issue,” said City Manager James Keene. “It makes sense to be responsive to citizen feedback and build on the recommendations of the (the Infrastructure Blue Ribbon Commission) IBRC by advancing our efforts here.”

Here’s how the $2.2 million would be allocated:

• $1,053,000 for additional street maintenance
• $1,000,000 for additional sidewalk repairs
• $70,000 for the purchase of asphalt materials
• $77,000 for tree pruning and planting

As soon as the additional money becomes available, the City’s next steps will include the following:

1. Project scoping work: Scoping for the street repairs and for sidewalk repairs around schools is well under way, and will be completed upon approval of the funding. Additionally, the City will ask citizens to help identify sidewalk “hot spots” for repair.
2. Sidewalk and street repairs: It is expected that the bid packages for this work will be completed in May 2013, with work to begin in June or July 2013. Repairs needed near schools will be identified and scheduled for completion during the summer prior to the beginning of the school year to minimize disruptions.
3. Tree work: The recommended additional tree pruning and planting work will be completed in the next few months.

For more information, visit the City's website.  

Also on Palo Alto Patch:

Bike Sharing Program Coming to Palo Alto

Millionaires Minted: Palo Alto Startup Sold

Brain Mapping Project: Neuroscience's Next Human Genome Project