Project Description
The Cassia Street project will improve pedestrian facilities and will not involve rebuilding the roadway.
- Construct curb, gutter and attached sidewalk on the south side of Cassia Street between Curtis Road and Orchard Street to match existing sidewalk
- Finish the connection of sidewalk on the north side of Cassia Street between Curtis Road and Beach Street
- Improve pedestrian ramps
- Install stormwater facilities
- Add a handrail along the open ditch just east of Beach Street
- Majority of project will feature rolled curb
Project Purpose
- Improve pedestrian safety
- Provide a safe route to school for students
- Update pedestrian facilities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Background
The Cassia Street project is a request from the Boise School District to improve pedestrian safety for students walking to Borah High School and Grace Jordan Elementary. Once completed, this project, along with a project to add sidewalks to Curtis Road (Curtis improvements are not expected until 2011), will allow the Boise School District to discontinue safety busing for the students living on the east side of Curtis Road attending Grace Jordan Elementary School. If you have questions about safety busing, please contact Sarah Stobaugh with the Boise School District at 854-4167.
Why improvements to only one side of the street?
In an effort to maximize tax dollars some sidewalk projects are being constructed on only one side of the street. This enables ACHD to improve pedestrian safety, while at the same time allowing the District to do more pedestrian projects throughout the county.
The side chosen depends on several factors, including: pedestrian safety, amount of gaps in existing sidewalk infrastructure, impacts to property owners, and existing ACHD right-of-way. Every effort was made to choose the side that would increase pedestrian safety while making the best use of available funds.
Canal Safety
On the south side of Cassia St. on the west end of the project, there is an existing open canal ditch and about 80 feet of the canal will be in close proximity with the proposed sidewalk. To increase safety, ACHD will install 125 feet of railing to protect pedestrians. Six inch vertical curb will also be installed at this location which will provide added protection from vehicle traffic.
Construction Year
Construction started July 2010.
Side Notes
Bus Stops - This project does not include improvements to the bus stop on Curtis Road at Cassia Street or on Orchard Street at Cassia Street. Valley Regional Transit (VRT) is evaluating the need for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) improvements at these bus stops.
Rolled Curb - The majority of the Cassia Sidewalk project will feature rolled curb. Rolled curb will allow ACHD to update the sidewalks to modern standards and allow for better drainage. In addition, with this type of curb driveways remain level with the sidewalk, making it easier for citizens in wheelchairs or with visual impairments to navigate the sidewalk.