Unfortunately, all of the options you recommend include access across property that is not city owned, precluding us from designating them as the public detour route. I do not want to sound like a bureaucrat and outline all of the needed easements, property transfers and indemnification clauses that would be needed in order to advance any of the potions you recommend. The city through its project development process identified bike and pedestrian access during construction as an issue. The identified and to be designated detours are the best we could formally accomplish, though we do understand from conversations with the University that the passageway you identified, may continue to be available for your coincidental use. I agree with you they are not optimal, but they are the best available recognizing our legal authorities and constraints.

While I get this from the city’s perspective, it does seem like there’s no good forum to advocate for strategic investments by the city to purchase strategic non-motorized links.

In particular, I can recall a report about a recent city council meeting where the city suddenly approved fixing the pedestrian bridge over by Delaware Street. That particular bridge was very low on the CIP score and yet suddenly it was approved. A better investment, for the same money, IMHO, might have been to get an easement from the university for this and then pave it.