Some Auburn residents will find it a little easier to walk off of their streets in the coming months.
This spring and summer, the city will continue its work on improving sidewalks in residential neighborhoods through various programs.
According to Auburn city officials, this year's sidewalk and curb replacement program will include the following blocks: Morris Street, from Capitol to East Genesee streets; Capitol Street, from Cayuga to Perry streets; Cayuga Street, from Capitol to East Genesee streets.
The sidewalk replacement program is funded by money from the Community Development Block Grant Program, a federal program geared toward infrastructure development in low and moderate income areas. More than a dozen blocks of sidewalk were listed for improvements through 2010 in the city's 2006-07 CDBG action plan.
The program has secured more than $170,000 for improvements this year.
According to William Lupien, superintendent of engineering services, the city will “be replacing the missing, dangerous, and unsafe” sidewalks and curbs in the selected areas.
If all three stretches are completed and there is still money left over, corners and walkways adjacent to the selected areas could receive work as well, Lupien said.
Auburn City Council approved a resolution in March authorizing City Manager Mark Palesh to advertise for bids on the project. The city is still receiving bids, and officials are scheduled to open them by the end of the month.
For those residents whose sidewalks are not included in the replacement program, the city still offers the Revolving Loan Sidewalk Program. The program allows for residents to have a contractor repair sidewalks and curbs in front of their property. The city finances the work, and the property owners pay for the improvements over a five-year period through their taxes.
There is still plenty of money budgeted for the loan program, Lupien said. One only needs to call the city's engineering department to have inspectors take a look at the sidewalk. Property owners need to be current on their taxes to qualify.
“As long as the sidewalk is in the city's right of way, we can put it in the (revolving loan) program,” Lupien said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
According to Auburn city officials, this year's sidewalk and curb replacement program will include the following blocks: Morris Street, from Capitol to East Genesee streets; Capitol Street, from Cayuga to Perry streets; Cayuga Street, from Capitol to East Genesee streets.
The sidewalk replacement program is funded by money from the Community Development Block Grant Program, a federal program geared toward infrastructure development in low and moderate income areas. More than a dozen blocks of sidewalk were listed for improvements through 2010 in the city's 2006-07 CDBG action plan.
The program has secured more than $170,000 for improvements this year.
According to William Lupien, superintendent of engineering services, the city will “be replacing the missing, dangerous, and unsafe” sidewalks and curbs in the selected areas.
If all three stretches are completed and there is still money left over, corners and walkways adjacent to the selected areas could receive work as well, Lupien said.
Auburn City Council approved a resolution in March authorizing City Manager Mark Palesh to advertise for bids on the project. The city is still receiving bids, and officials are scheduled to open them by the end of the month.
For those residents whose sidewalks are not included in the replacement program, the city still offers the Revolving Loan Sidewalk Program. The program allows for residents to have a contractor repair sidewalks and curbs in front of their property. The city finances the work, and the property owners pay for the improvements over a five-year period through their taxes.
There is still plenty of money budgeted for the loan program, Lupien said. One only needs to call the city's engineering department to have inspectors take a look at the sidewalk. Property owners need to be current on their taxes to qualify.
“As long as the sidewalk is in the city's right of way, we can put it in the (revolving loan) program,” Lupien said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
