This from the Parking rock star, Donald Shoup
I recall some interest expressed at TRB in whether alternative funding
mechanisms might affect quality and extent of sidewalk networks.
Here's one approach.
http://www.uctc.net/research/papers/UCTC-FR-2011-23.pdf
Broken sidewalks have become an important legal issue since 2002 when the
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act **ADA* *applies to
sidewalks. As one way to comply with the ADA, cities can require
property owners to repair any broken sidewalk fronting their property
before they sell the property. Before any real estate is sold, the city
inspects the sidewalk fronting the property. If the sidewalk is in good
condition, the city does not require the owner to do anything. If the
sidewalk is broken, however, the city requires the owner to repair it
before selling the property. Analysis of sales data shows that if Los
Angeles had adopted a point-of-sale program in 1995, about half of the
city’s 4,600 miles of broken sidewalks would have been repaired
by 2007. A walkable city needs walkable sidewalks. Requiring sidewalk
repairs when property is sold can help put cities back on their
feet.
--
Phyllis Orrick
Communications Director
Safe Transportation Research and Education
Center<http://www.safetrec.berkeley.edu>(SafeTREC)
University of California Transportation Center <http://www.uctc.net> (UCTC)
Institute for Urban and Regional Development
<http://www.iurd.berkeley.edu>(IURD)
2614 Dwight Way
UC Berkeley
Berkeley CA 94720-7374
510-643-1779
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