The improvements are estimated for completion in 2027.
What they're saying
“Nearly every home and business in West U has access to a sidewalk,” Mayor Susan Sample said in a Dec. 9 news release. “The council is proud to lead a pedestrian-friendly city, and it has been our priority to continue making investments that will ensure West U’s sidewalks remain safe and accessible for all.”
At the Dec. 8 meeting, West University Place City Council approved the $453,772 budget amendment for a total of $800,000 to Queens Constructors LLC, which brings West U to a funding commitment of more than $1 million total for sidewalk repairs, according to the news release.
"This will let us address all the open requests we have for sidewalk and all the ones we know about, and still give us about $50,000 in cushion for things that come up," Public Works Director Michael Leech said.
What happened?
While the initial sidewalks improvement program that came from the city’s Sidewalk Master Plan in 2024 was set for a five-year phased project, several factors contributed to the project extension, according to the agenda documents, which included:
- Market conditions
- Inflation
- Additional sidewalk failures caused by soil conditions
- Aged trees
The bigger picture
Before the start of the METRO sidewalk repair project that began at the beginning of the year, public works officials saw more than 400 sidewalk repair requests. The METRO project is at 75% completion, public works officials said, and is estimated for completion “shortly after the new year.”
West U officials were awarded a $400,000 grant in partnership with METRO in August 2024 to replace approximately 2,000 square feet of sidewalk to enhance pedestrian access to public transit and amenities.
