GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The City of Greenfield has received a $45,000 grant to conduct a Sidewalk Condition Assessment that will update the 2018 sidewalk study and will be completed by Tighe & Bond of Westfield. The assessment will allow the city to prioritize sidewalk replacement and repairs based on condition, utilizing a new Sidewalk Infrastructure web-based GIS database.
From the City of Greenfield:
Greenfield Begins Sidewalk Condition Assessment
GREENFIELD — The City of Greenfield received a Massachusetts Office on Disability’s Grant for $45,000 to conduct a Sidewalk Condition Assessment. Through a competitive Request for Quotes process, Tighe & Bond (local office based in Westfield, MA), was awarded the contract to conduct the Assessment. Representatives from Tighe & Bond will begin their Assessment starting Monday, April 14 and continue the process through June.
Greenfield has roughly 78 miles of sidewalks (411,840 square feet) and 35 miles of curbing. From fiscal year 2018 (the year that our ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, which included a sidewalk conditions study, was created) through fiscal year 2024, more than 34,556 linear feet (LF) of concrete sidewalks and 3,020 linear feet of asphalt walkway were repaired/replaced. DPW has also repaired curb ramps and installed detectable warning panels.
The new Assessment aims to update the 2018 sidewalk conditions study. In addition to documenting the condition of existing sidewalks, curb ramps, and installed detectable warning panels, the sidewalk conditions will be “rated” according to their condition and the results compiled into a Sidewalk Infrastructure Web-based GIS Database. The project will allow Tighe & Bond to configure field applications that will enable DPW staff to view and or edit selected GIS data using a mobile device or desktop computer, and do the following: view spatial location of assets, edit transportation asset information, view and add attachments (i.e. photos), measure distances and areas, and more. This will help DPW prioritize repairs and improvements and can be used as an ongoing tool for staff to track and update sidewalk conditions.
The City of Greenfield is committed to ensuring that sidewalk infrastructure is safe for its residents and visitors. Providing safe and accessible pedestrian routes fosters equity for all sidewalk users and encourages residents to choose walking (or “rolling”) or public transit as healthy and sustainable modes of transportation. ADA design and general mobility improvements have been incorporated into the City’s complete streets plans. Because sidewalks are a critical component for accessibility and safety, the City of Greenfield is always in a state of transition and replacing its sidewalks as often as possible. However, repairing and replacing sidewalks is costly, thus it’s important that sidewalk replacement is done cost effectively and in accordance with its condition and priority. Our new Sidewalk Condition Assessment will help us to better manage and target needed sidewalk repairs and replacement.
Tighe & Bond representatives will be walking and surveying every street in Greenfield. They will be taking notes and photos. They will likely be rolling a cart with a mounted camera on it and potentially be riding around on a bicycle, also with a mounted camera on it. Don’t be alarmed, they’re just interested in our sidewalks.
