Raleigh Downtown Living Advocates

Category: City Government (Page 10 of 15)

Litter? Graffiti? Potholes? The fix is a click away! The report card is in, and the city’s response to SeeClickFix gets an A+!

March 7, 2011 /

Many residents have traded big yards in the suburbs, in favor of downtown Raleigh streetscapes, where they walk to work or enjoy the first signs of spring in the surrounding neighborhoods.  In the past, these strolls may have been marred by tree branches overhanging the sidewalks or neglected walkways.  There seemed to be little they could do.  But now that’s changed.

Three months ago the DLA launched SeeClickFix, a new web-based reporting tool to allow residents to easily report non-emergency issues to city authorities.  Since the City of Raleigh formally adopted this tool the results have been nothing short of transformative!  Let me count the ways…

Residents have quickly begun to use the system, reporting an average of 15 issues each day.

Since the City assigned staff and began a process for managing reported issues, 527 have been reported.

The Scorecard (Jan 10th – February 28th)

1 = average number of days for the City agencies to acknowledge issues

4 = average number of days for issues to be fixed / closed

35 = percentage of issues closed within one day

More than 1 out of every 5 issues reported are in the area of Downtown Raleigh.

Downtown residents have really appreciated how this tool can make a difference in their neighborhood.  Issues that they may have tolerated for years are suddenly being fixed!

Haven’t yet used this tool?  It’s easy.  

Go to our original blog post to learn how simple it is to use.  Download the mobile app and you’re ready to go.  Don’t have a smartphone?  No problem.  Report your issue directly from our website.

And you can do much more than just submit your issues.

SeeClickFix is more than a tool to simply report issues, it’s designed for use in neighborhoods.  Residents can follow, comment and vote to get issues fixed in their own neighborhoods.  Just register with SeeClickFix here.

Once registered, all the issues you report and the comments you post will be associated with your account.  You can set up a watch area, and even use filters to follow issues reported by others that fall into certain categories (sidewalks, potholes, signs/signals, street lights, litter/garbage, graffiti, etc.).  Whenever an issue is reported in your neighborhood you will receive an email alert, and you can choose to add your comment or vote to get this issue fixed.

The DLA has set up a Downtown Raleigh watch area.  If you would like to follow all issues reported in Downtown Raleigh, just click here and “follow this place”.

The DLA acknowledges City Councilman, Bonner Gaylord, who first brought the SCF smartphone App to Raleigh, and Daniel Howe, from the City Manager’s office, for coordinating the various city departments (Public Works, Police, Parks and Recreation, Waste Services, etc.) to ensure that all reported issues are handled efficiently.

It’s often believed that urban living comes with a degree of grit and noise and inconvenience.    SeeClickFix tells a different story.  You do have a voice in your community, and now you know where to direct it!

Got a question or comment about the tool?  Contact us.  

DLA Helps Draft Panhandling Ordinance

February 14, 2011 /

About a month ago the DLA was approached by District Captain Kevin Craighead of the Raleigh Police Department to review a draft of an ordinance to regulate begging and panhandling in the city.  Captain Craighead explained that complaints about panhandling had been increasing, particularly in the the downtown area, and wanted to get input from downtown residents. 

Having only a few days to respond before the ordinance was scheduled to be reviewed by the Raleigh City Council, the DLA quickly canvassed our Core Group members and suggestions were presented to the City Council.  While most of our suggestions were already included in the draft, we were able to add a specific change that restricts begging or panhandling from “within 20 feet of the entrance to any residence or residential building”.  

The approved Panhandling Ordinance requires a person to obtain a city permit to beg or panhandle on streets or other public property, restricts panhandling from occurring earlier than 8:00am or later than 8:00pm, and identifies the manner and places where panhandling is not allowed.

Here is a link to the Amended Panhandling Ordinance. 


THEY’VE BEEN WORKING ON THE RAILROAD

February 10, 2011 /

On February 8, 2011 the Obama Administration announced that it plans to invest an additional $53 billion in high-speed and intercity rail service over the next six years. The plan calls for giving 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years. 

So when will the Triangle see high speed rail, commuter rail and light rail transit? 

Raleigh will see noticeable improvements in rail service over the next few years. Track improvements made possible through high-speed rail funds approved early last year will help increase the speed of NC trains from 79 to 90 mph in some areas with future high-speed rail connections to Richmond and Washington D.C.

But there is much more coming, as a plan to provide additional rail options and expand bus service in our community has been discussed on this blog many times.  

Though it’s been quiet lately, public meetings on rail alignment and station locations are expected to be held early this spring.   Check out Triangle Regional Transit Program for updates from Capital Area Friends of Transit

A recent article in the Midtown Magazine by Illyse Lane does an excellent job of explaining the types of rail technologies being discussed, and why our attention is critical to the process.  With support by those living downtown, we are able to create an environment that is friendly to residents, the ecosystem, the city, and the eastern seaboard.  Get on board now!

You can read a PDF of the magazine article here.

This Midtown Magazine article was written by Illyse Lane, and was featured in their January/February edition.  The Midtown Magazine is now online!  Visit them at www.midtownmag.com

One Small Step for a Vital Greenway Connection — One Wrong Step for the Environment? So Argue Property Owners.

January 24, 2011 /

There’s a lot at stake… First consider Sig Hutchinson’s dream for area walkers, runners and bikers:

Sig Hutchinson, co-founder of the Raleigh Downtowner has long been working to build 150 miles of greenway trails spanning Falls Lake to Durham’s American Tobacco complex, and he sites Crabtree Creek as the connection point for the rest of the grid.  Sig says, “The (1.3 mile) Crabtree Creek Greenway connection to Umstead State Park is the final link in a hundred plus mile greenway system”.

The DLA also sees an advantage in this connection, since it allows downtown residents to not only walk, run or bike on greenways from Downtown to Umstead Park, but they’ll be able to continue through the park and connect through the new Crabtree Creek greenway onto Shelley Lake, or east past Raleigh Boulevard and all the way to New Bern Avenue.  With plans for a future 3-mile link to Downtown from Raleigh Boulevard, residents will enjoy a continuous 26 mile loop.

So what is the problem?

This connection has been shown on greenway maps for years, but the city needs land for the easement, which runs through Hanson’s quarry.  Now that the quarry seeks to expand, owners have proposed a trade.  If the city allows them their request for expansion, then they agree to unlock this important greenway connection.

Downtown GreenwayMapsClick the image to enlarge 

This image shows how the future 1.3 mile Crabtree Creek greenway section would connect to the existing greenways through Umstead Park.

Consider the issues involved:A website blockthequarry.org promotes community opposition to the quarry expansion, and a recent article from the N&O, Raleigh quarry wants to grow, also outlines concerns.

 

 

“A mining company wants to extend an 80-year-old rock quarry that abuts an upscale neighborhood and Umstead State Park.  But a group of North Raleigh residents is fighting the expansion, saying it could lead to environmental damage, noisy neighborhoods and diminished property values.”  

Indyweek.com also talks about the issues involved – Raleigh quarry quandry, creek or greenway?.    

 

 

Sig Hutchinson continues to fight for walkers and bikers through his Greenway ACTION Alert, asking residents to send a message to Raleigh City Council members regarding this “last piece in the Greenway System yet to be secured and the gateway connecting Raleigh to the rest of the region.”  Sig says, “When I talk to groups interested in greenways, far and away the most important segue that people talk about is this connection at Crabtree Creek.  And now the option for the quarry to expand creates a window of opportunity for the greenway.  If this goes away, it’s just too easy for them to walk away and never open the door again.”

 

The Planning Commission Committee of the Whole is expected to decide on the issue at their scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 1st (9-11am) at the Raleigh Municipal Building, Rm 303.  The meeting is open to the public.

Where do you stand?

Come to the meeting so you can make your voice heard in this important decision for Raleigh’s development.

DLA launches new web-based tool for reporting streetscape issues!

December 8, 2010 /

The DLA has just launched a new web-based and smart phone compatible tool specifically designed for Downtown residents called SeeClickFix.  Our unique pedestrian lifestyle makes using this tool a huge benefit for residents and also the City of Raleigh. 

Walking down the sidewalk in your neighborhood and find you have to dodge overhanging branches or shrubbery that has taken over the sidewalk?  SeeClickFix!  Maybe a street light is out, or vandals have graffitied a wall you pass by.  Or, you have an idea for increasing pedestrian safety, such as a new stop sign or cross walk.  Now you can take action on the spot, reporting it to city authorities  in less time than it takes you to gripe about it!  I’ve been testing out this system for the past month, and the city is 4-4 in responding immediately to my “clicks” and soon after the issues were fixed!

Report your issue on the spot in less time than it takes you to gripe about it!

Take a photo –> geo tag it –> report it.

SeeClickFix, and is now embedded on the DLA website.  Click the Report Issues tab on our homepage to see the tool and learn about some of the key features.  And be sure to download the free Smart Phone App and try it for yourself!  Want to really make sure your issue gets the attention it deserves?  Tell your friends in the neighborhood about it via a built in link to Facebook and Twitter, and have them “vote” to get it fixed.  

Our thanks to City Councilman, Bonner Gaylord, who brought us this cool smart phone App, making it easier than ever for us to have a voice in shaping our neighborhoods.

Click here to view the Downtown Raleigh reported issues.

Got a question or comment about the tool?  Contact us.




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