Decatur's Neighborhood Sidewalk Improvement Program

The City of Decatur is accepting petitions from neighborhoods for sidewalk improvements. As part of the Decatur Bond Referendum that was approved in September 2006, $1.5 million was earmarked for sidewalk improvements, including construction of new sidewalks where none currently exist as well as repair of existing sidewalks. About $250,000 of this total was spent this year for sidewalk improvements on Coventry Road, East Lake Drive, Forkner Drive, Madison Avenue, South Columbia Drive, Underwood Street, West Ponce de Leon Avenue, Wilton Drive and Winnona Drive.

Major goals of the City’s 2000 Strategic Plan and 2007 Community Transportation Plan are to provide safe, well-maintained sidewalks on at least one side of every street in Decatur. A discussion of the City’s pedestrian goals and a map of the City’s sidewalk system is available online in the Community Transportation Plan.

The city-wide sidewalk improvement program began in 2004 with funding from annual appropriations by the City Commission. About 3 1/2 miles of new and replacement sidewalks have been built to date. Generally, priority has been to:

• Provide safe walking routes to the City’s schools.
• Close gaps in the existing sidewalk system.
• Provide sidewalks where there is a substantial amount of existing pedestrian traffic and in areas with high volumes of vehicular traffic.
• Respond to citizen requests.
• Repair existing sidewalks in poor condition.

In order to supplement these traditional priorities, the City Commission has approved a petition process for the next round of sidewalk improvements. A sample petition is available below. Residents and neighborhood associations are encouraged to survey their communities to determine support for sidewalk improvements. There is no required minimum level of support. However, wide support from residents for installation of new sidewalks along a street where no sidewalk exists is desirable. As part of the criteria listed above, petitions will be considered in the overall development of a proposed scope of work but should not be regarded as the controlling factor. Ultimately, the City Commission will approve sidewalk improvements considering what is in the best interests of Decatur’s public safety, health and welfare.

>Sample Petition (MS Word)

No petition is required to request repairs to existing sidewalks. Repairs may be requested by emailing sidewalks@decaturga.com or by faxing a request the City’s Engineering Department at 404-378-5054.

The next phase of sidewalk improvements is planned for 2008. In order to be considered for this phase, please return your petition to the City Manager’s Office by March 31, 2008:

City Manager’s Office
City of Decatur
509 North McDonough St.
P.O. Box 220
Decatur, Georgia  30031