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Tue, Oct 13, 2009
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Milton to use federal grant
to update town sidewalks
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Milton students will soon have a safer, healthier path to school after a $124,000 federal grant was acquired under the state’s Safe Routes to School program. The grant also coincides with an initiative to upgrade Milton sidewalks throughout town.
Milton requires homeowners to fix cracked sidewalks within 30 days, an ordinance rarely enforced. Last spring, however, town officials have began the process of beautifying the town while simultaneously making it safer for pedestrians.
Milton Town Councilman Noble Prettyman, who is also a Cape Henlopen School District board member, said the first priority is to install sidewalks adjacent to a school parking lot. He said the area can present safety hazards, as buses and other vehicles routinely pick up and drop off children where students – on foot – enter the school.
Prettyman sits on the board an advisory committee for the safe school route program, along with Milton Elementary School Principal Kevin Mumford, school nurse Kathy Capozzoli and third-grade teacher Kathy Mumford. Prettyman helped secure the grant in May. Now, he is encouraging town officials to partner with the advisory committee.
Since applying for the grant, he’s asked Milton Streets and Sidewalks Committee Chairwoman Leah Betts and Milton Public Works Superintendent Allen Atkins to help the town provide safer travel routes for students.
“What we want to do, since people have to fix their sidewalks anyway, is to cut their expenses. They won’t have to pay the higher costs because of the grant,” said Prettyman.
Katie Mencarini of Maryland-based Toole Design Group said the advisory committee discussed collecting funds to replace existing sidewalks from all property owners on the west side of Chestnut Street. If the federal funds can be used in that area, the committee discussed asking Chestnut Street residents to contribute to project costs, which would be offset by federal funds.
To ensure safe pedestrian pathways at the school, all visitor parking at Milton Elementary School would be converted to employee-only parking in an effort to reduce traffic.
Prettyman also said providing easier pathways for students to walk to school might improve student health and curb obesity.
Mumford agrees. “We are committed to working with the town to improve safety around the school through new sidewalk connections, more visible crossings and through parental education initiatives. We also have an active program in place to address the health of students at school,” said Mumford. He also said the advisory committee is encouraging students to walk or bike to school – physical activity many students can use.
Prettyman also mentioned the need to provide continuous sidewalks for children who live southeast of town, such as the south side of Atlantic Street, which has no sidewalks.
Prettyman is recommending installing sidewalks on Church Street too, a thoroughfare that allows children to walk to Milton Elementary School from the Cannery Village and Chestnut Crossing residential developments.
Prettyman said the advisory committee will meet again Friday, Oct. 16, to discuss the project and establish a construction timeline. In March, officials said the town has set $30,000 aside for townwide repairs.
They also said another $70,000 will be used from budgeted cash reserve funds. Milton Mayor Don Post says he estimates each household’s repair costs at roughly $3,000. Residents whose income is within 200 percent of the federal poverty level or who have been denied a federal bank loan would be eligible to receive financial assistance from the town. For more information, call Milton Town Hall at 302-684-4110.
For a detailed map of sidewalk recommendations, residents can go to: www.communitywalk.com/MiltonSRTS, where they can also leave comments and suggestions.
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