CityReporter
Uptown Update
City, Columbia Gas Make Progress in Uptown Before Holiday Pause
Crews in August smooth concrete poured for wider, ADA-compliant sidewalks in front of Hanby Elementary (56 S. State St.)
Work continues to improve Uptown’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) this fall. Key to the Uptown Improvements Project is the creation of wider sidewalks that are easier to maneuver for people who use adaptive equipment and have mobility challenges. Other improvements include the installation of bump-outs in the following locations along State Street: • West side in front of Church of the Messiah • East side in front of 8 N. State St. • East and west sides at Plum Street connecting Westerville Public
Library and North Star, the latter will have a pedestrian-activated flasher. In advance of the City’s project, Columbia Gas is replacing a low-pressure gas line, located beneath the State Street pavement, with medium-pressure service and relocating meters to the side or rear of the buildings. Both projects will be placed on hold from Nov. 1-Dec. 31 so that visitors can enjoy peaceful holiday shopping and dining in the area. Construction activity will resume on Jan.1. Read more at www.westerville. org/uptown.
City Plans Strategic Approach to Mobility Improvements Westerville Planning & Development is putting the final touches on the Westerville Strategic Mobility Plan. For years the City has studied the ways we use transportation and move from place to place in order to make strategic plans and smart investments for our roadways, recreational trail and sidewalk improvements. Resident feedback has been central to this planning process, with extensive outreach efforts conducted to formulate a draft plan in 2018 and helping to prioritize improvements moving forward in summer 2019. Staff will present the updated plan to the Westerville Planning Commission in the fall and then City Council this winter. The Westerville Strategic Mobility Plan will help guide future decisions per considerations set forth in the Westerville Community Plan. Now, the draft plan sets the stage for future decisions seeking to: • Improve mobility options, making it easier to bike, walk, ride public transportation and drive in our community and connect to the region. • Enhance quality of life, making it safer for youth to get to school, the workforce to get to their places of employment and for people to move about the City in a way that is pleasing to them. www.westervillemagazine.com
Kim Sharp, Deputy Director of Planning & Development, presents information about the Mobility Plan at an open house event in August.
• Support future and ongoing development to ensure Westerville remains economically competitive and vibrant. See the Westerville Community Plan to learn about the City’s vision. While formal surveys about the mobility plans are closed, the City is always looking for feedback. Share your thoughts, read the draft plan and find updates about the process at www.westerville.org/mobility. September/October 2019
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