TYLER, Texas — Those who have spent any time walking around Tyler know some of the sidewalks could use some work.
The city of Tyler just gave the green light to a new project that will improve sidewalks and roads.
Vatonia Holly said he does a lot of walking like to the doctor's office, the grocery store and Family Dollar.
"It is a little bit tedious on the legs sometimes, of course, because there is no sidewalk," Holly said.
The lack of sidewalks is an ongoing issue the city has been working on for years.
Gloria Washington, executive director of the Texas African American Museum, said she sees the need for sidewalks as more than convenience but safety as well.
“We don’t have to be out in the traffic of the street, get hit by a vehicle. You have a safe surrounding that's off the side of the street that you can walk in peace and harmony and walk in safety,” Washington said.
City of Tyler Engineer Darin Jennings explained the project approved by the city council on Wednesday will fill in gaps where no sidewalks exist. That includes local transit stops, trails and other routes pedestrians take each day.
“We want to fix that. We want to be able to have people to stand there and get to the transit stop on all-weather surfaces,” Jennings said.
City leaders chose locations for new sidewalks based on index scores and staff evaluations of city streets.
"It is going to be beneficial wherever you go. Whatever part of Tyler you go to, the sidewalks are going to be beneficial," Washington said.
It’s an ongoing issue the city has been working on for years. The project is funded in part by the Half-Cent Sales Tax Fund. The plan is to have it finished by February of next year.