A city council committee is purposing a $150,000 project to install sidewalks on Miami Street between Elmer and Nelson streets. In further reading the article, it seems to have been brought up because Tiffin University students are running on the street in groups on their way to their sports facilities.
Did it occur to anyone on council to ask the TU athletic director to get his students to use a street that is less busy and narrow, for example, Wentz Street? Or to have the students follow the basic traffic laws on city streets and not block traffic? Or, better yet, to have the university help pay for a bike/pedestrian path along Miami Street similar to the one along Coe Street to Hedges-Boyer Park?
If sidewalks are put only to Nelson Street, won't that be like a sidewalk to nowhere because it still won't get the students to their track facilities? If the council or TU would put in a bike/pedestrian path all the way to the county park beside the athletic facilities, it could be used by city residents, too.
Personally, I think this proposal needs more discussion, feasibility studies and property owner input before the city spends this much money. You all might want to contact your council person before we get stuck with this bill.
Susan Crumrine, Tiffin
