October 1, 2009
Don’t blacktop the boulevards
A plan to use beautification money to put blacktop in the space between the curb and sidewalk when Hwy 13 is rebuilt will ultimately do more harm than good.
As part of the Hwy 13 project the city is eligible for $79,000 in community specific improvements. While other communities have used similar state road money for the installation of decorative road lighting, dressing up of crosswalks, special landscaping or other beautification measures, the City of Medford wants to spend it on more asphalt. Specifically, city coordinator John Fales is recommending that the city spend all of that money along with about $10,000 more to have blacktop in place of sod or grass which is standard as part of the project.
According to Fales, the salt applied to the road for ice and snow removal will end up killing any grass planted along the highway. Oddly enough this doesn't appear to be a problem elsewhere in the city despite the many complaints over the years from residents who feel the city over-applies salt at some locations. Nor does it appear to be an issue elsewhere in the county considering the amount of time and money spent to mow the shoulders in rural areas.
A drive along Hwy 13 will show dead grass along the sides of the road. However, a similar dead area can be seen near the bridge in downtown Medford where pedestrians have worn down the grass in what is known as a “desire path.” With the Hwy 13 project slated to include sidewalks these paths will be eliminated.
Setting aside that asphalt boulevards through the city's main traffic corridor would be just plain ugly regardless of what color blacktop they decide to use, the city council should oppose the plan on environmental grounds. More hard surface means more runoff which means that rather than getting trapped and filtered by the sturdy grasses developed to thrive along highways, the salt, sand, grime and oil of the road will get flushed into the nearest storm sewer and dumped into the Black River every time it rains.
Instead of a hard surface which will contribute to run-off and water pollution issues, the city should stick with the sod or other water permeable surfacing such as crushed granite which would allow water to absorb into the ground and eventually make its way back into the city's aquifers.
Rather than wasting the money set aside for project upgrades on asphalt the city should look at ways to enhance the city's image, perhaps through establishing decorative landscaping in the centers of the two massive roundabouts that are part of the project or in some other improvement which will improve the city rather than raise storm water runoff concerns.
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