ST9902-CS120514
Halie Hernandez
From:Paul Weiser <boulder@verizon.net>
Sent:Monday, May 14, 2012 9:17 PM
To:Keith Marvin
Subject:Re: Fwd: Sidewalk Completion Reminder
Keith -
Sorry, I was too harsh there. I appreciate your taking the time to explain the
situation.
Converting Sandy Lake/Thweat Rd from a country lane into a city street must present all
sorts of problems, and a few minor slips are inevitable. Keep up the good work.
- Paul Weiser
Keith Marvin wrote:
Mr. Weiser,
We made every attempt to make the walk compliant despite the temporary
nature of it. We will review the situation and attempt to bring it back
into compliance.
Keith
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Weiser <boulder@verizon.net>
To: Keith Marvin <KMARVIN@coppelltx.gov>
Sent: 5/14/2012 4:40:20 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: Sidewalk Completion Reminder
Dear Mr. Marvin,
Just to put this in the form of a question, what you're saying is that
since it's temporary it doesn't have to comply with anything?
The history you cited is apparent from the sidewalk - specifically, that
bend around where a utility pole was expected to go, but didn't. If you
could see your way clear to add a little bit of an extension of the
sidewalk - temporarily, of course - opposite the two poles which block
it, this kindness would be much appreciated.
Thank you for your attention,
- Paul Weiser
Keith Marvin wrote:
Mr. Weiser,
My name is Keith Marvin, and I am the project engineer for the Sandy
Lake Road widening project. Thank you for sending us your concerns
about this sidewalk. I have reviewed your pictures, and visited the
site to personally view the situation.
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We talked at length before we installed this new crosswalk and
sidewalk. For many years the city has heard requests for the
installation of a crosswalk at this location. We were never able to
install the crossing due to the fact we didn't have a safe place to
put pedestrians on the north side of Sandy Lake. When we purchased the
land needed for the road widening, we found that we had an opportunity
to install the walk and crossing.
The crosswalk and sidewalk are both temporary in nature, and will be
reconstructed with the Sandy Lake Road widening. They are intended to
provide a designated pedestrian route through the construction area.
We placed the sidewalk where we did thinking that we were leaving
ample room behind the sidewalk for the installation of these new
utility poles. Unfortunately the location of the poles changed from
the original design to what you see out there today.
Sorry to stray so far off the point, but I thought you would like to
know some of the history. To make a long story short, we are aware of
the situation. Upon completion of the widening of Sandy Lake Road,
this sidewalk will be continuous from Coppell Road to Denton Tap, and
it will be ADA compliant. In the interim, we will try to provide the
minimum 3 foot clear walk that is required by code.
Please feel free to call me with any additional questions related to
this project.
Keith
Keith Marvin, P.E.
Project Engineer
(972) 304-3681
CMO 5/10/2012 2:32 PM >>>
Paul Weiser <boulder@verizon.net>
5/10/2012 8:12 AM >>>
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Gentlemen,
This is a reminder about the incomplete sidewalk at the intersection
of Whispering Hills Dr and W Sandy Lake Rd. It is presently hazardous
and probably fails to meet agency requirements. The remainder of this
email explains the situation, provides a few snapshots, and describes
required remedial action.
Background: Recently a the sidewalk was extended from Oak Trail to
Whispering Hills along the north side of W Sandy Lake Rd, terminating
in the crosswalk at Whispering Hills. As originally completed, the
sidewalk had no problems other than drop-off at the sides to the
dirt. However, three wooden utility poles were subsequently placed
along the same line, partly or entirely on the new sidewalk and partly
blocking passage.
This is the eastern-most pole, which only takes a small bite out of
the sidewalk.
East Oike
This is the middle pole, which blocks the sidewalk for a large part of
its width with the wide channel cut out around it.
Middle Pole
This is the wetern-most pole, which effectively blocks at least half
the width of the sidewalk.
West Pole
The situation: While it is possible for agile pedestrians, walking
single file, to avoid the poles and the ankle-twisting hazard of the
channel around the middle pole, use of this sidewalk is very difficult
for bicyclists (I'm one, avoiding the danger of biking on Denton Tap
Rd with its poor visibility and deteriorating edges makes me very
appreciative of the new sidewalk and, especially, the regulated
crosswalk). However, it is plainly impassable for anyone in a
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wheelchair or using a walker and dangerous for the vision-impaired -
users to whom the textured ramps at the crossing indicate it was
designed to cater. The city needs to fix the sidewalk so everyone can
safely use it; I imagine it fails to meet state or federal standards
for new construction on account of this.
Remedial action: To fix the problem will require additional sidewalk
width opposite the poles so users of the sidewalk will have full
normal width of clear sidewalk to the side of each pole. Blending the
added surface into the existing sidewalk could be done with curves or
straight edges - that's a matter for architects, though they should
keep the needs of wheelchair and vision-impaired users in mind -
perhaps adding some texture to indicate an unexpected drop-off or pole
to vision-impaired approaching with a cane. You should also take
advantage of this opportunity to fill in the trench around the middle
pole.
Thanks in advance for your attention and effective action on his.
Sincerely,
- Paul Weiser, 301 S Coppell Trlr 36
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