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Today's Poll!Funding options sought for greenway extension
The issue is before the Jefferson City Council about whether JCMG will receive a deferment on building a sidewalk near their facility. One of the options includes a bridge over this creek to connect the existing Greenway trail with the proposed new sidewalk. Photo by Julie Smith.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Several council members have directed city staff to look at potential funding sources for a proposed greenway expansion that would operate as a pedestrian walkway serving the Jefferson City Medical Group.
At the Public Works and Planning Committee meeting Thursday, members looked at options for a pedestrian connection to JCMG, one of which is an extension of the city’s greenway.
In December, JCMG was approved for a deferral on sidewalks that would have been required with plans for facility and parking expansion. The requirement would have dictated JCMG put sidewalks along West Stadium Boulevard, from the greenway trail to the far southeast corner of JCMG’s property. When the deferral was originally sought, JCMG representatives called a sidewalk in that location “ill-advised” and suggested the greenway option would be a much better alternative.
City staff has estimated the greenway extension would cost $220,000, while a sidewalk along Stadium Boulevard would cost $52,000. The funds have been discussed as coming out of the city’s general revenue budget.
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Comments
JCsleeper 1 year, 2 months ago
Shouldn't a greenway path come out of the Parks and Recreation budget? They've got their half-cent sales tax to work with. Also fail to see why JCMG gets a pass on sidewalks. As for public access and safety, there are areas in greater need of pedestrian transportation.
JCLifer 1 year, 2 months ago
I wish the city would quit spending our tax dollars to build these greenway trails in business, industrial, and remote areas. They should be using this money to build sidewalks in residential areas instead. Build sidewalks where people live and where they can be used to walk to work or to the store, or to get to know their neighbors. We need sidewalks built where people live, not fancy greenway trails where you have to drive and park across town to use.
As for JCMG, those rich doctors should not be exempt from following the law like everyone else. They knew the rules berfore they built, so they should build the reqiuired sidewalks.
This whole thing just shows how the common man gets the shaft, and the rich don't have to follow the rulkes in this town.
viktorkowski 1 year, 2 months ago
the idea of a greenway trail is to provide a area for safe biking, walking, or running that usually connects to a residential area. It can also provide a alternative way to travel to work out of traffic. It is one of the few bright areas JC has. I know I can send my 13 year old to the grocery store using a greenway trail and not have to worry about him.
viktorkowski 1 year, 2 months ago
This town doesn't have sidewalks because previous administrations and council members allowed the sidewalk law go unenforced. JCMG should not get a pass. I'm sure that JCMG has no problem coming up with the funds to pay for it.
muleman 1 year, 2 months ago
Why spend money fixing the city streets and other infastructure that everyone uses when you can goldplate a sidewalk to benefit just a few people? Ron White is right, you cant fix stupid.
JMO 1 year, 2 months ago
I agree there should be more reidential sidewalks and they need sidewalks around the schools. If you live less than a mile from a elementary or middle school, or less than three miles from the high school, your student is considered a "walker". But where do they walk? On the streets? It's not safe.
lovemykids 1 year, 2 months ago
This should be given two thumbs up. Please forward THIS idea to the council. We do not want a convention center or to pay for St Marys and Lincoln and all else, but we DO want sidewalks for our children who are told by the school they have to walk home.
JCLifer 1 year, 2 months ago
Njext thing we will hear is that they are building a greenway trail all throughout the old MSP site and to Adrian's Island? Maybe a greenway trail around the perimeter of Capital Mall?
Every residential area should have sidewalks on at least one side of the street. also, major aterial streets like Missouri Bldv., Southwest Blvd, Ellis Blvd, Stadium, and Seven Hills should have them even if they don't have housing because so many people walk to businesses or between residential areas there.
Building a Greenway trail out to the fair grounds or behind a bunch of businesses along wears creek through washington park is nice, but lets get the residential areas finished first.
Sidewalks in residential areas are a way better way to spend our tax dollars than to put in more benches and signs uptown, pay for trolleys to run between bars for rich young professionals, create facebook apps for uptown, remodel St. Mary's Hospital, or even do a bunch of remodeling down at the MSP site. (The state should be taking care of the MSP site, not the city.)
This is a family town, and that is where its strength lies and will always lie. They just need to fix up things for family people, not businesses, and they need to get some good paying jobs here so that people will want to live here to raise their families and support their community. Without good paying jobs, this place is becoming a welfare state,and the rich business owners are taking good money from taxpayers who need it worse to pay their high utility bills, health insurance, gasoline that costs more than Columbia, etc. etc. Raising a family is expensive these days,especially on such low wages and no raises, and there are no good-paying jobs open around here.
Let JCMG put in the sidewalks along the streets, and they can also build a greenway trail if it serves their employees from the parking lots, and if they want to be a good corportate steward toward Jefferson City. Us poor strapped taxpayers should not be building greenways and sidewalks for rich doctors.
rodinman 1 year, 2 months ago
the article states "City staff has estimated the greenway extension would cost $220,000, while a sidewalk along Stadium Boulevard would cost $52,000. The funds have been discussed as coming out of the city’s general revenue budget." I thought businesses are required to pay for the sidewalks when there is new construction. If so, why is there any discussion about using money from the city's general revenue budget? For me, this is a no brainer, a siiewalk for the short distance along Stadium is fiscally more prudent. Currently whenever I walk from Vieth to Schnuck's I cross Stadium, continue on Satinwood until it connects to the Greenway, about 2 blocks.
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seeno 1 year, 2 months ago
JCMG should never have been given an exception. They can afford to pay for a decent sidewalk. They should have done the right thing and built the sidewalk because it was the right thing to do. The JC Chamber President is the PR person for JCMG. They continue to build their big limestone buildings with big green signs in established neighborhoods with families and aren't willing to do what any other business would have to do. There are no longer any, or at least very few independent medical practioners in this town. Not everyone wants corporate heathcare.
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