City leaders have been in a struggle to come up with a viable solution to fix its buckling sidewalks for the past 50 years. Real estate developer Michael P. Russell takes a look at the work that needs to be done and outlines a plan for a fix.
With 6,500 miles of streets and around 10,000 miles of sidewalks, Los Angeles has the largest roadway system in the nation. What the city does not have is a sidewalk repair program for the more than 40 percent that need fixing.
The city has not had a program for close to 30 years, and as a result, the estimated cost to fix those that need revamping has ballooned to an estimated $1.9 billion.
“On an annual basis, the City spends between $3 and $5 million for trip and fall claims. To solve the problem, the City allocates $10 million for sidewalk repair. At this rate, it will take 190 years to fix the sidewalks, which is absurd.”
Over the years, the city has come up with several funding plans to solve the problem from picking up the tab completely to splitting the cost with residents to relying on federal funds. None of those plans have proved viable.
“Site inspections revealed that over 90 percent of damaged sidewalks occurred where tree roots are found. Restricted growing space is the single most important cause of conflicts between tree roots and hardscapes. (Who put liquid amber and ficus trees on their approved tree list? The City of Los Angeles.)The City’s lawyers view broken sidewalks as the financial responsibility of private property owners. However, the city also has an ordinance requiring that the City make repairs to sidewalks damaged by the roots of City street trees.”
Liability issues also add to the dilemma. Several cities, including Los Angeles, have been sued for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by not fixing sidewalks.
“For the sidewalks in the City of Los Angeles to get repaired in a fair and timely fashion, it is necessary to follow a totally different approach than in the past. The City Council needs to establish an independent Agency or Authority to be responsible for the repair of all pedestrian pathways in the City.”
The article goes on to unveil an action plan for solving the city’s sidewalk repair problems and how officials might cover the costs.
FULL STORY: These Sidewalks Are Not Made for Walkin’
Accessibility Barriers Continue to Plague Some Metro Systems
Most metro systems in the United States tend to score high on accessibility, while European systems have mixed results.
The Solution to Los Angeles' Crumbling Sidewalks
Parking guru Donald Shoup discusses how the city of Los Angeles can fix its roughly 4,300 miles of sidewalk that require some degree of repair, for free.
No Fix for Rundown Sidewalks and Streets in Los Angeles
The city of Los Angeles has been searching for years for a fiscal solution to the deplorable conditions of its streets and sidewalks, but a recent proposal to increase sales taxes by a half-cent to 9.5 percent is now dead.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
