ETC
state of the county
Side work
Safe walking routes to school, safe sidewalks for everyone BY ALEX AUBUCHON
I
SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION FUND When developers build projects in Marion County, many are required to include a sidewalk or pedestrian path in their plans. However, if there are no existing sidewalks nearby to connect to, developers can instead pay into our newly established Sidewalk Construction Fund, which we use to build new sidewalks in areas of greatest need within our jurisdiction. These new construction projects generally focus on areas within a two-mile radius of schools, in order to provide students and parents a safer and more reliable route. Recently, new sidewalks were constructed along C.R. 467 near Belleview Middle and High Schools and in the Marion Oaks area. There are also upcoming projects on Southwest 40th Street near Saddlewood Elementary School, throughout the community surrounding Legacy Elementary School, and near Horizon Academy in Marion Oaks. This fund allows us to invest in our com-
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| AUG 2021 | OCALAMAGAZINE.COM
munities to enhance residents’ quality of life by utilizing private resources to ensure elements of our public infrastructure are able to keep pace. ADA ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS We are also committed to ensuring our sidewalks within the county-maintained road network are safe and accessible for all our residents and visitors. Each year, OCE budgets $75,000 to ADA sidewalk improvements. Our staff members identify existing pedestrian routes, sidewalks and intersections that do not meet current standards set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA improvements that have fallen into disrepair, and correct these issues as quickly as possible. PENNY SALES TAX The renewal of the Penny Sales Tax in Marion County has afforded infrastructure improvements that would have otherwise taken years longer to fund and complete. The Transportation Improvement Pro-
gram includes the construction of two entirely new roads funded by the Penny Sales Tax. One of these will include a sidewalk and a 12-foot, multi-use path; another will feature sidewalks on either side. Three other Penny Sales Tax projects involve adding new lanes or adding additional divided roadways; these projects will include some combination of sidewalks or multi-use paths as well. For more information on Marion County’s transportation infrastructure, visit us online at MarionFL.org/CountyEngineer. Alex AuBuchon is a public information officer for the Marion County government.
Photos courtesy of Marion County
t’s time to head back to school, and whether you’re making the trip by car, bus, bicycle or foot, Marion County is committed to making your journey as safe and efficient as possible. Marion County’s Office of the County Engineer (OCE) currently maintains approximately 150 miles of sidewalks along county-maintained roads in unincorporated areas of the county. Most of these sidewalks were constructed in the last 30 years, and we expect to build approximately 40 more miles of sidewalks in the next five years. Our upcoming five-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) taking effect Oct. 1 of this year recognizes the importance of developing and maintaining pedestrian routes and includes specific initiatives to accomplish this goal.
