By Natalie Morales
Enquirer staff writer

ERLANGER - Residents might see the beginnings of a new sidewalk system as early as next year.

Council's public works committee Tuesday night presented council members with a master plan to update sidewalks.

"When you look at making it safe and convenient to walk around and get from point to point, it's helpful to have sidewalks that will take you straight from one place to the next place," City Administrator Bill Scheyer said.

In some areas, the sidewalks are new and on both sides of the streets, but in other areas, sidewalks exist - if at all - only on one side of the street and in segments, Scheyer said.

The plan lists 37 projects throughout the city that the committee deemed necessary to create a "closed-loop" sidewalk system. The goal is to have sidewalks that connect all parts of the city.

Council members agreed to vote on accepting the master plan at the next meeting, Aug. 3.

The expansion project is estimated to cost $1.5 million, and would take place over a period of years, with only a couple of the sidewalk areas being completed each year, Scheyer said.

The committee prioritized the 37 projects, giving higher priority to areas children use to walk to school, he said.

"We're really trying to get more aggressive on making Erlanger a healthier, safer place to live," Mayor Marc Otto said.

The last time the city completed a major sidewalk expansion project was about 30 years ago, Scheyer said.

E-mail nmorales@enquirer.com