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Seeking <br />Solutions <br />The Types of Elected Officials <br />Who May Be of Help <br />Outreach should begin at the local level. <br />State representatives can be contacted later <br />if needed or if the roadway in question is <br />within their jurisdiction. <br />• Local: Mayor, County Executive, City <br />Council Member, County Council <br />Member, Town Council Member, <br />Alderperson, District or Ward Liaison, <br />Homeowner Association Board Members <br />State: Delegate, Senator, Assembly <br />Member, Governor <br />The Types of Government Departments <br />That Might Have Jurisdiction <br />• Local: Department of Public Works, <br />Department of Streets and Sidewalks, <br />Department of Transportation, Regional <br />Planning Commission <br />• State: Department of Transportation <br />• Federal: Department of Transportation <br />The Types of Organizations That Can <br />Help Advocate for Change <br />• Area Agencies on Aging <br />• Businesses and business advocacy groups <br />• Civic associations <br />• Homeowner associations <br />• Local advocacy organizations (e.g., AARP) <br />• Local media (newspapers, websites, TV) <br />• Schools <br />• Nonprofits <br />• Walking and bicycling groups <br />An Aside About Sidewalks <br />Getting a sidewalk added can be complicated. <br />Among the challenges and considerations: <br />Unless the land where a sidewalk will be placed is <br />owned by the municipality, or is an easement area that <br />allows the local government to use of a strip of private <br />property for public use, access for adding a sidewalk <br />could require negotiating with the respective property <br />owners. That might involve buying or taking (through <br />eminent domain) land from a homeowner or business. <br />Installing a sidewalk where one doesn't already exist is <br />easier if the work involves filling a gap in an otherwise <br />continuous sidewalk. <br />• In many areas, the local department of public works or <br />transportation will need to be involved in any <br />decisions about the placement and width of sidewalks. <br />Although the responsibility for maintaining publicly <br />owned sidewalks officially falls to the local <br />government, homeowner association or public works <br />department, maintenance of many if not most <br />sidewalks is the property owner's responsibility. (That <br />includes the need to shovel snow and salt or chip away <br />ice.) Some owners fulfill that responsibility, some don't. <br />Caring for trees and bushes that intrude upon a <br />sidewalk is usually the responsibility of the property's <br />owner. A local government or homeowner association <br />can send a notice asking the ownerto perform the <br />maintenance. If the property owner does not comply, <br />a public works or contracted landscape crew might <br />trim the greenery and bill the property owner. <br />Some communities or neighborhoods have ordinances <br />restricting the installation of sidewalks or curbs for <br />aesthetic reasons. Advocating for sidewalks in these <br />areas can be challenging. If adding sidewalks is not <br />possible, the local government can still make the <br />streets safer for pedestrians by employing traffic - <br />calming measures (such as those described in the <br />next section). <br />AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit 119 <br />Page 64 of 89 <br />