Rethinking Denver Sidewalk Policy

Assume responsibility for sidewalk construction and maintenance, and establish a dedicated funding source for this purpose.

Set mode share goals for walking, biking and transit, and strive to allocate transportation funding across modes in proportion to these goals.

Incorporate sidewalks into routine roadway maintenance programs, including assessment and repair of existing facilities.

Track spending on sidewalks, maintain a comprehensive inventory of pedestrian facilities, and monitor usage of these facilities.

To become a more walkable, healthier, happier, and more prosperous city, Denver should:

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?The City and County of Denver places responsibility for sidewalk construction and repair on private property owners.While this system works relatively well for new or redevelopment projects, it does not address large portions of the City that were built without adequate sidewalks.Enforcement of the policy is minimal, resulting in inconsistent and deficient sidewalks throughout the City, particularly in low-income neighborhoods.

Poor pedestrian environments disproportionately impact the most vulnerable members of our community. One-third of Americans don’t — or can’t — drive an automobile and need transportation options. Low-income neighborhoods are the least likely to have sidewalks, accessible pedestrian ramps, street/sidewalk lighting, marked crosswalks and traffic calming measures. Low-income areas have more than double the pedestrian fatality rates of wealthier communities.

Between 2008 and 2011, an average of 350 pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes were reported each year in Denver, resulting in an average of 232 pedestrian injuries and nearly 7 pedestrian fatalities each year.The photos below illustrate typical pedestrian conditions in low-income Denver neighborhoods. Residents of these neighborhoods who need to walk to transit stops, a grocery store, school or medical clinics face unsafe conditions and risk becoming a crash or fatality statistic.

Other policies of note:

What are other cities doing?WESTMINSTER, CO

FUNDING METHODInfrastructure fee charged on resident's utility bill to pay for sidewalks and street lighting. HOW ESTABLISHED 2013 city ordinance modified from 2007 ordinance to keep up with increasing costs.HOW MUCH $6 fee included on monthly utility bill.CRITERIA FOR REPAIR Safety considerations based on deterioration caused by cracking, heaving, excess water filtration or standing or frozen water.NOTES 90% of 750 miles of sidewalks in Westminster are in acceptable condition.

ENGLEWOOD, CO

FUNDING METHOD Property owner opt-in fee paid into a “concrete utility fund.” HOW ESTABLISHED 1997 city ordinance. HOW MUCH $0.123 per square foot of concrete in the public right-of-way charged to each property owner’s water bill.CRITERIA FOR REPAIR Needed repairs are rated 1-6, with 6 being a critical need for repair work.NOTES 95% of homeowners participate.

ANN ARBOR, MI

FUNDING METHOD Five year mill levy.HOW ESTABLISHED Approved by voters in 2011.HOW MUCH ⅛ mill.CRITERIA FOR REPAIR The City is divided into 5 sections. Each year repairs are made in roughly 20% of the City. City employees proactively seek sidewalk problems, mark them, and hire contractors to do the repairs.NOTES Scheduled completion of repairs expected in 2016. Funds from a street millage also pay for sidewalk cost overages.

ITHACA, NY

FUNDING METHOD Annual maintenance fee charged to residents based on lot type. Lot type is determined by the amount of foot traffic. HOW ESTABLISHED 2013 city ordinance subject to permissive referendum.HOW MUCH $70 annually for low foot-traffic lots. Other lots pay a $140 maintenance fee plus $0.015 per square foot of buildings on the lot, and $30 per 55 feet of lot frontage.CRITERIA FOR REPAIR Five Sidewalk Improvement Districts were established. City Council will approve funding as part of budget for each district.

LAKEWOOD, COThe City includes sidewalks in its annual maintenance budget, reviews all public right-of-way facilities and makes needed repairs.SAN LUIS OBISPO, CAThe City’s comprehensive plan commits to “strive to allocate transportation funding across various modes approximately proportional to the modal split objectives for 2035.” The 2035 objective is to achieve 12% of resident trips by transit, 20% by bike, and 18% by walking and other non-single-occupant-vehicle modes.

A possible sidewalk funding method for DenverIn 2002, Denver Public Works developed a proposal for funding sidewalk construction and maintenance through a property fee of $1 per linear foot of street frontage sidewalk. This is based on a 50 year lifecycle for the improvements.Updated 2015 estimated costs are $1.25 per linear foot per year, with a replacement rate of 2% or 1.72 million square feet of sidewalk per year.

Collect $1.25 per linear foot per year from homeowners to fund sidewalk maintenance.