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Where their trucks have simply crossed over the sidewalk

Steel Business responsible

This has been going in since they opened shop over 5 years ago. They constantly park their 18-wheelers on the road which is a 45mph 2-lane road. At that speed it's hard to tell whether they are stopped or just going slow. I've seen many close calls. There are signs that clearly say no parking on the road. A business truck should follow the law too.

Thank you for contacting us. I do apologize for the inconvenience. The city does not repair sidewalks unless they remove them in when completing a repair. It is the property owners responsiblity to repair and maintain the sidewalk.

Thank you for contacting 311.

Can the Business please receive a footway violation notice from the City of Houston to fix it? In addition to the inability to use it properly, it is an eye sore; It is a road utilized by persons arriving from Hobby Airport. It sets a very low example, and doesn't help encourage neighbors to care for their properties.

Also, what about the median? The 18-wheelers drive up onto it when leaving the business. There are major tire indentations that fill with water when it rains, creates mud on the road, and the curb has been damaged as well. Again, part of the eye-sore. That surely is not the responsibility of the Business, if at least a violation for damage to city property.

The business's property has ample room to create a wider driveway to accommodate its 18-wheelers going in and out of their property. What can the city do to prevent them from driving onto the Grass median? The median is completely destroyed on the edge with massive mud holes from 18-wheeler tire tracks that just get deeper and deeper as the rains come and they drive onto it. It's been happening so long that it's visible on google earth. I don't live in a bad part of town but this destruction and carelessness adds to that feeling and only encourages people to care less about where they live.

Pedro, I have seen this issue several times before. A damaged sidewalk that not only looks horrible, but is unsafe to walk / ride your bike on. Unfortunately the City cannot force these businesses to fix them.
@HoustonGreat

Perhaps check with the safe sidealk program contact person is A Siddiqui 832-395-2216

Pedro, any updates on the sidewalk and median? As to the sidewalk: my understanding is that the Safe Sidewalk program is focused on public access areas arounds schools- no idea why 311 suggested this. The City would be responsible for enforcing its ordinances (such as the property owner's responsbility to maintain sidewalks), however the City has no made no efforts to do this while the pedestrian infrastructure crumbles.

It is the responsibility of municipalities to equitably enforce its laws. Recently the City of Atlanta lost a lawsuit for a sidewalk injury because they failed to enforced their sidewalk ordinances. See http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/18441000/city-to-pay-3m-to-settle-lawsuit-over-sidewalk-accident

Hi.

No nothing has happened. Speaking of schools there is a new one that opened not far from there with some not very walkable sidewalks. I'm actually about to take a lead role in my civic club and hopefully gain more voices through the neighborhood website I'm creating. Sidewalks, rogue dogs, bike sharrows... Some of the things I hope to take care of first.

Hi Pedro! Unfortunate no movement and been over eight months. Good luck with the civic club- we empathize with the issues you are taking on. You can submit a sidewalk installation request near schools through the Safe Sidewalk program. The guidelines and online submission form can be found here: http://www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/notices/safe_sidewalk_program.html A heads up on the Safe Sidewalk program: it only covers new sidewalk installations, not repairs to existing sidewalks. We submitted Safe Sidewalk requests for four local schools in our neighborhood, which were approved. However, they are sitting in a queue to nowhere due to this provision, which we are seeking to have changed as it makes no sense. A sidewalk gone missing or a horribly broken sidewalk is just as bad as a non-existent sidewalk. Not sure what the City is thinking on this; they really should either enforce existing sidewalk ordinances or repair them near schools. Another option you could look at is working with disabled persons in your community for the Pedestrian Accessible Review program (see same link for details). This will not address the deeper, systemic issues that the City has with the sidewalk grid but might help provide relief for more vulnerable community members. Would love to hear how it goes.

Feb. 2013 - SeeClickFix website and City of Houston smartphone app case submittal info:

Cases entered prior to our official App launch are being closed. If a City of Houston 311 request is still needed, please call 311, submit a new request using the City’s 311 website or use the new 311 Smartphone App (email and faxes are also accepted, see http://www.houston311.org for more information).

Cases (issues) that require an investigation may result in the original case being closed, and another case being opened if actual work is deemed necessary. The city is working on a solution to provide a link between these connected cases so a citizen may track their issue beginning to end. As each department handles case requests differently, the information contained within the 311 case management system may not always reflect all the information about a particular case.

A "Re-opened" case only opens the SeeClickFix issue for comments on the website. It does not re-open the case within the City of Houston 311 case management system. To follow the progress of an issue, refer to the Houston 311 case reference number when contacting the city. Only the original submitter can then re-close a re-opened case.

Once the cases are closed within the Houston 311 case management system, the issues are automatically "Closed" on the SeeClickFix website. The cases can be followed not only by calling the Houston 311 Help & Info line, but also through the newly released Houston 311 website mapping application, http://www.houston311.org - case information is updated hourly. This new feature allows citizens a view into not only their cases, but also all cases within any area of Houston. New case creation dates and due dates can be also be seen using these features.

The City of Houston's 311 Smartphone app was officially launched Tuesday, 1/29/2013, by Mayor Annise Parker, http://www.houstontx.gov/311/20130129.html