Opposition to the Bunts Road Multi-Modal Path Project
I strongly oppose the current Bunts Road Multi-Modal Path project due to serious concerns regarding public process, safety, fiscal responsibility, and long-term community impact.
Over $1.7 million in City funds have already been spent on this $22 million project, despite no secured federal funding (as of last week), and a lack of clear community support. Outreach has been inadequate and misleading. Only one vague notice was sent, which failed to clearly disclose the 10-foot-wide multi-modal path.
The process has been rushed and flawed. The City Council voted before the public comment period closed, undermining public engagement and eroding trust.
The plan introduces significant safety risks. With 116 intersections in just 1.5 miles, along a critical emergency route, the design increases the potential for traffic conflicts and collisions. It appears ODOT safety guidelines were not fully followed. If injuries occur, the City may be liable.
Environmental and community impacts have been overlooked. The project would remove mature trees, increase air and noise pollution, and disrupt the residential character of the neighborhood, affecting families, seniors, and school children.
More than 1,400 residents have formally expressed opposition, yet official communications highlighted form-letter support that appears inconsistent with the broader public sentiment.
Spending local funds before securing federal dollars is fiscally irresponsible. The City must pause, re-engage transparently with the community, and reconsider this plan with a focus on safety, and the long-term neighborhood wellbeing- because this plan is fundamentally flawed.
Please rethink moving forward with a project that compromises safety, lacks resident support, wastes public funds, erodes trust in local government, and risks causing lasting harm to the neighborhood and the very public you are meant to serve and protect.
The idea of shared-use paths continues to gain more scrutiny and opposition, this time in Mantua Township. The residents on one street where a shared-use path is proposed are in opposition because the path will be directly in front of their homes, replacing trees and green space, reducing privacy, and ruining their neighborhood.
As Lakewood plans to move forward with the ill-fated, dangerous path on Bunts, it stands to be on the forefront of wasteful spending that people in Lakewood and beyond strongly oppose.
Those who live on the street know best - this path will be an expensive boondoggle that can't be reversed. While you continue to note (as you have for 18 months) that it's too late to make changes, we all know that isn't true. You recently made changes to the Active Transportation Plan simply because residents on Edgewater complained ONE TIME that they did not want a shared-use path.
A responsible government listens to the people and makes changes, rather than digs its heels into a project that will fail and will only leave the city strapped by maintenance costs and lawsuits when people get harmed.
Be responsible stewards of taxpayer funds. Do the right thing. Drop the shared-use path from Bunts while you still can.
Opposition to the Bunts Road Multi-Modal Path Project
I strongly oppose the current Bunts Road Multi-Modal Path project due to serious concerns regarding public process, safety, fiscal responsibility, and long-term community impact.
Over $1.7 million in City funds have already been spent on this $22 million project, despite no secured federal funding (as of last week), and a lack of clear community support. Outreach has been inadequate and misleading. Only one vague notice was sent, which failed to clearly disclose the 10-foot-wide multi-modal path.
The process has been rushed and flawed. The City Council voted before the public comment period closed, undermining public engagement and eroding trust.
The plan introduces significant safety risks. With 116 intersections in just 1.5 miles, along a critical emergency route, the design increases the potential for traffic conflicts and collisions. It appears ODOT safety guidelines were not fully followed. If injuries occur, the City may be liable.
Environmental and community impacts have been overlooked. The project would remove mature trees, increase air and noise pollution, and disrupt the residential character of the neighborhood, affecting families, seniors, and school children.
More than 1,400 residents have formally expressed opposition, yet official communications highlighted form-letter support that appears inconsistent with the broader public sentiment.
Spending local funds before securing federal dollars is fiscally irresponsible. The City must pause, re-engage transparently with the community, and reconsider this plan with a focus on safety, and the long-term neighborhood wellbeing- because this plan is fundamentally flawed.
Please rethink moving forward with a project that compromises safety, lacks resident support, wastes public funds, erodes trust in local government, and risks causing lasting harm to the neighborhood and the very public you are meant to serve and protect.
The idea of shared-use paths continues to gain more scrutiny and opposition, this time in Mantua Township. The residents on one street where a shared-use path is proposed are in opposition because the path will be directly in front of their homes, replacing trees and green space, reducing privacy, and ruining their neighborhood.
As Lakewood plans to move forward with the ill-fated, dangerous path on Bunts, it stands to be on the forefront of wasteful spending that people in Lakewood and beyond strongly oppose.
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/neighbors-oppose-proposed-bike-trail-extension-in-portage-co-and-they-have-signs
Those who live on the street know best - this path will be an expensive boondoggle that can't be reversed. While you continue to note (as you have for 18 months) that it's too late to make changes, we all know that isn't true. You recently made changes to the Active Transportation Plan simply because residents on Edgewater complained ONE TIME that they did not want a shared-use path.
A responsible government listens to the people and makes changes, rather than digs its heels into a project that will fail and will only leave the city strapped by maintenance costs and lawsuits when people get harmed.
Be responsible stewards of taxpayer funds. Do the right thing. Drop the shared-use path from Bunts while you still can.