Request to City of Dunwoody to add sidewalks to complete Chesnut Elementary's Walk to School Route

Chesnut Elementary Walk to School Routes

Email sent to Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton & Public Works Director Michael Smith, cc:ing rest of Council on March 1, 2020, requesting additional sidewalks to complete the designated walking routes of Chesnut Elementary and to comply with current City of Dunwoody Sidewalk Policy.

Eric / Michael,

On behalf of the Children of Chesnut Elementary and by the current sidewalk improvement policy (attached), I am submitting a request that the City of Dunwoody prioritizes sidewalk construction along the attached Walk to School Routes currently used by the Chesnut Elementary.  The Dunwoody North subdivision (both sides of Tilly Mill) feeds solely into Chesnut Elementary School, and sidewalks within and across the neighborhood are almost non-existent therefore limiting the ability for children to walk to school.  By paragraph II, B, 2 of the Sidewalk Improvement Policy, I have submitted the following streets for consideration as they meet one of the three required requirements, which is a Walking Route from the school’s Safe Routes to School Committee.

Blue Route on Map with Sidewalk Missing

On Brookhurst Drive from Kingsgate Drive to East Kings Point Circle

On East Kings Point Circle from Stonington Rd to Brookhurst Drive

On Stonington Rd from Tilly Mill to East Kings Point Circle

On Binghamton Drive from Madison Place Lane to Amberly Drive

Green Route on Map with Sidewalk Missing
On Brookhurst Drive from East Kings Point Circle to Kings Point Drive

On Kings Point Drive from Brookhurst to Flintshire Ct

On Flintshire Ct from Kings Point Drive to Sharon Valley Court

Purple and Orange Routes are complete.

Based on the Walk to School Maps provided by the school, I would believe that the Blue Route is more heavily traveled by vehicles and, therefore, less safe for walkers (and it ties into the Green).   I also have grave concerns that the traffic counts on Stonington Rd and the adjacent streets will continue to grow as highway construction increases, so will the amount of cut-through traffic.  Sidewalks are sorely needed for pedestrian safety in this community, and the thought of children walking to school in the streets alongside the increasing cut-through traffic is unreasonable. 

Based on the scope of this project, could staff please provide Council a ballpark cost estimate based on the projects outlined and costs of recent sidewalk installation; then depending on funding availability, I would like your recommendation on how to make this request to satisfy the current policy, a reality.  Should the routes (or sections of it) be contemplated under current contracts, or should we submit an RFP to get quotes on the full project?

For their continued interest in these projects, I have copied several members (parents) of the Chesnut School Council as well as the President of the Dunwoody North Civic Association.

To my fellow Council members, please assist me in bringing all of the elementary schools walking routes to the staff's attention.

Thank You.

John Heneghan

Dunwoody City Council