Franklin — Residents living near South 51st Street near Pleasant View Elementary School aren't going to see the road widened to four lanes, but what they might see one day are new trails, sidewalks or other options being considered to make the street more pedestrian friendly.
A city committee formed last year is looking at ways to improve safety along that stretch of road and is using a $3,000 state grant to hire a consultant to look at options for the area.
The Franklin Trails Committee was created after the Common Council discussed whether 51st Street should be expanded to four lanes, said Alderwoman Kristen Wilhelm.
"We heard loud and clear they weren't interested in wider roads, but they were interested in pedestrian access," said Wilhelm, a member of the committee.
A cooperative effort
Later this spring, the consultant will bring together city and school officials, neighbors and business owners for a walk-through of the area. After getting their input, the consultant will put together some options on how the city can improve life for pedestrians.
Some of the ideas being considered to achieve that goal are new trails, sidewalks, revising the timing on traffic lights or traffic signal push buttons.
Not only is important to improve safety near the school, but also to make businesses such as the Sendik's store on 51st and Rawson Avenue easier to get to, said David Fowler, the committee's chairman.
Some concerns about trails
Some property owners have been nervous about how much impact a trail next to their homes would have, Fowler said. However, he said property values would likely increase as a result.
"We have a lot of education to do. A lot of residents, rightly so, are concerned about changes," he said. "I have not been able to find yet in my research anywhere where trails might have, on property values, a detrimental impact."
Further south on 51st Street, plans for sidewalks are in the works.
Sidewalks are coming
Work will begin later this year on a federal stimulus-funded project that will bring long-awaited sidewalks on 51st Street near the high school. Sidewalks will also be installed, with money from a block grant, from about Evergreen Lane to Drexel Avenue.
"I think it's the most progress we've seen for pedestrian access yet," Wilhelm said, "so it's very positive."
The spring could also see the Safe Routes to School program, in which the areas around all Franklin schools would be examined for possible pedestrian improvements.
The grant application is under way, but the Franklin School Board would still need to sign off on it.
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