Sidewalks along Hwy 441
 

I notice, along the road construction on Highway 441 the state/county is putting in miles of sidewalks.
I don't know how often those sidewalks get used, but don't you feel the land would be better
suited for a golf car path that would benefit the retail stores out there from TV and
other subdivisions?

Your opinion please

The sidewalks I’m told are required by a State/federal law. Disclaimer: I have not researched the statute’s for this information. I figured waste of time and would not change anything,

The sidewalks are most likely required by the Federal ADA (Americans with Disabilities) law. A lot of taxpayer money is spent on sidewalks that are not often used because there is no requirement to do a benefit-to-cost analysis, like most other projects. If meets the ADA criteria, you need to build it.

Don't know about required, but I did hear the state does this because the money
is available to spend.
Another example is up on SE 92nd Loop, (bypass Bellview) there's miles of sidewalks.

TV isn't going to build MMPs (golf cart paths) allowing access to properties they do not own...

They don't get used at all yet, they aren't open for use yet. On the other side of the road some of the sidewalks nearer to Chipotle are open for use. I use them. I park my golf cart at Walgreen's and walk from there (since you aren't allowed to cross Rolling Acres with a golf cart).

It's SO much safer than trying to walk in the middle of the parking lots, and much more convenient than walking the sidewalk of the shopping plaza, then leaving that sidewalk to cross through the parking lot, and to the side road of the plaza area, and then around the Chipotle building to get in.

I can also definitely see me riding my bicycle on the sidewalk on my side of 441, to get to Walmart, or maybe have a hotdog at Sonic. Much safer than riding on 441 or even on the back road behind the strip-malls, where you have to fight with traffic just to take a left - anywhere at all.

They’re also adding sidewalks along SR 44. As stated earlier in this thread, the only explanation must be that they’re now required by federal law.

I've heard some new legislation was passed that forces them to build sidewalks.

The best part of the new sidewalk along Rte 44 is that the sidewalk stops 5-10 feet from the edge of any road or driveway. Not sure how this helps any ADA compliance.

The ADA law is more than 30 years old. Passed in 1990. It is why a lot of sidewalks are included in Federally funded construction projects.

I came from a sidewalk challenged city so I don't care how they got there, but I support them being there. There were may places in the last city I lived where my wife and I would have loved to walk to, but were unable to because of the lack of sidewalks. Walking facing traffic on a two or three lane road just isn't safe.

I see people walking along the side of 441 every time I drive up to Ocala and wonder why there were no sidewalks when there were obviously so many people without cars needing them. Many of these people I see are carrying backpacks.

People should take advantage of what is a golf cart free, safer than MMP's area, and use them for walking.

I have personally arranged the construction of ramps from the street to a sidewalk only one little problem, 20 years later there are no sidewalks installed. Lonely little ramps all over with no destination. When I asked my superiors why they said it wasn’t our business as to why, just build baby build. Taxes in N.J. are easily four times what they are here. Same waste going on.

I'd use them for biking, even if bikes should use the shoulder/bike lane.

Asked and answered. In the first 5 post. We probably don't need/want any more of the same reworded answers. JMHO

They’re for when the ecar revolution fails and We no longer have fossil fuel production…

We traveled to the gulf coast recently, taking two-lane roads and noticed sidewalks for miles along cow-pastures and vacant land. Seems pretty fishy.

ADA Requirement
 

Under the ADA (Federal Act ) all businesses and local/state jurisdictions must provide unrestricted access for the disabled from public transportation to and within the businesses as a public accommodation.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a car or golf cart or even two good legs to walk on. It is another example of all tax payers helping those less fortunate.

I travel 5 or 6 days a week using 44 to the gym in Leesburg , those sidewalks have been a good thing for many people who live along both sides of the highway . I see mothers pushing baby carriages, younger children on bikes , a couple of people in wheel chairs, people in all kinds of service uniforms who now aren’t struggling walking along the grass on their way to work . We sometimes forget because of the wonderful place we live in that something as simple as a sidewalk can enrich peoples life’s.FYI please don’t forget food drive today , if you can leave some cans at the post office boxes today

I think many stretches of the new sidewalks will not be well suited for biking or walking for exercise since they cross a number of roads that egress 441. You would be stopping all the time to cross traffic. The only question I had concerning the new sidewalks is that they seem to be in a place that would be dug up should 441 be widened in the future north of where the construction is currently taking place now, like near the Walmart area. I always assumed that was coming but it may still be years away I guess.

Sidewalks
 

There are hundreds of apartments being built. People without transportation will use the sidewalks. I would say it’s all part of the planning and development for the town.

Bureaucracy at its best (worst). A regulation that requires a sidewalk along a six lane highway is ridiculous. And there's nobody to complain too.

Good luck! :1rotfl::1rotfl:

State Representative……you know who that is, right?

We have access from Wawa all the way up to Advanced Auto, Which includes BJ’s, Lowes, and Walmart to name a few. These properties are not owned by TV.

Sidewalks could help bring down the obesity numbers.

That is the one exception to the rule... And that is up in the Hysterical Section...

That model has been changed...

None of that access is MMPs. There is only a golf cart gate (it even has a sign specifying "no pedestrians") off Paradise, that exits out at the cul de sac behind 441 by the alternative medicine building. That cul de sac is basically just a connection road, I don't think it even has a name/number. All the buildings on it either have 441/27 as their address, or the names of the side-streets as their address. But it's not an MMP, it's a 2-lane vehicular traffic road, with no sidewalks.

Golf cart paths needed
 

I agree!! Put in golf cart paths and walking paths wherever possible to accommodate TV.
I’d love to be able to shop at the shops on 446 but can’t get to them by golf cart!

Talk about a huge waste of taxpayer money! Put them in when there’s a few stores or businesses. There is nothing there for miles!

It's not TV property, so it'll never happen...

Its mainly for future pedestrian use as business fill up the lots and for safety as well.

If you do not drive, sidewalks make it safer to get to stores. If youuse a wheelchair you have more freedom to get to where you want to go.

Why some sidewalks that are completed ,are not open for use, is a mystery to me.

I think sidewalks should be put in.

I agree those sidewalks are important to some people, but walking to the retail stores from the residential areas in 97 degree weather, they wouldn't be crowded for sure.