BEAVERCREEK — Beavercreek resident George Rocheleau is concerned about the lack of sidewalks in heavy traffic areas through the streets of the community.
Rocheleau retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1994 and from Meijer Inc. in 2014. He’s been a Beavercreek resident since 1993 and since the spring of 2015 he has been walking around the city because his vehicle broke down and he cannot afford to repair or replace it.
His biggest concern is North Longview Street with high traffic areas including retail stores, the post office and the library.
Rocheleau added that there are no sidewalks along Kemp Road between North Knoll Drive and Meadowcourt Drive, and Gerspacher Road and Bluewing Drive, Pentagon Boulevard in front of the Beavercreek Store & Lock, Crossing Boulevard near McDonalds and Buffalo Wild Wings across from the Mall of Fairfield Commons and along the stretch of Dayton-Xenia Road between North Longview and east to North Fairfield Road by CVS Pharmacy.
Beavercreek City Engineer Jeff Moorman addressed some of those concerns, specifically the area around the library and post office and east toward North Fairfield Road.
“The reconstruction of this portion of Dayton-Xenia Road is scheduled to begin this year,” he said. “This roadway reconstruction project includes the installation of sidewalks along both sides of the roadway along this entire stretch of roadway and will connect into the existing pedestrian facilities just west of North Fairfield Road. Further, extensions of the sidewalks along Dayton-Xenia Road are planned with another major roadway reconstruction project planned for 2020.”
Rocheleau also cited lack of sidewalks near Regal Cinemas, The Mall at Fairfield Commons, Clark State College Park, and Soin Medical Center.
When speaking of the sidewalks between Clark State and Soin Hospital Moorman said, “There’s an existing eight-foot wide sidepath along the entire south side that runs in front of Clark State, the hospital, and the Mall at Fairfield Commons. The missing section of sidewalk along this stretch, has very little room between the roadway has very limited access. This would make the construction of a sidewalk difficult without having to grade into the interstate right-of-way. The walk along wouldn’t front along any privately owned property.”
There are alternatives to walking. The city is part of the Greene CATS service which connects with RTA. Also transportation is available through the city’s senior center as well.
“We offer transportation to all Beavercreek senior residents. We just need some personal information and then we can add them to the list,” said Beavercreek Senior Center receptionist Lisa Williford. “The cost is $4 roundtrip inside Beavercreek. We can take them anywhere in Beavercreek for things like doctor appointments, haircuts, restaurants, library, grocery stores, shopping, etc. Then we also travel outside Beavercreek to Kettering, Centerville, Xenia and Dayton. Those trips cost $8 round trip. Seniors can also contact Greene CATS for transportation.”
The senior center requires a 48-hour advance notice to be placed on the transportation list. The senior center provides transportation 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling 937-426-6166.
City officials said that the city has evolved from a township in the late 1970s to a city. For this reason, the city continues its applications of available grants. In the past 20 years, that city has been able to obtain approximately $80 million in grant funding, where over $94 million has been invested to improve infrastructure.
