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.
Read the full story: These Sidewalks Are Not Made for Walkin’
The City of Broken Sidewalks
Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?
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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement
The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.
Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion
Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.
NYC DOT wants faster, more permanent street upgrades
The city is examining ways to build more concrete infrastructure without getting entangled in 'decades-long' projects.
'Something we’ve never seen before:' rising utility rates could strain city finances nationwide
Data centers, climate change and other factors have caused utility rates in the United States to increase by 38% since 2020.
Trump to overrule local leaders, lease millions of acres of America’s Pacific Island territories’ seafloors to mining companies
International law says that the Indigenous people of America’s territories have a right to prior and informed consent regarding projects that impact their countries.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello