'It is not safe': Kyle works toward improving sidewalks across the city

Kyle has experienced explosive growth over the last decade. Many neighborhoods with consistent traffic either do not have sidewalks or have others in need of a little love. 

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) – The Perez family has lived on a tree-lined Kyle street for nearly 15 years. While it’s undoubtedly charming, they said they barely get out to enjoy it anymore because of increasing traffic safety concerns. 

Anita Perez said she once enjoyed going out for walks but isn’t going for many now. 

“It really concerns me to see that I’m not walking anymore,” Anita said. “It is too dangerous for me now. I don't want to walk on the street because you have cars going 40 to 50 miles an hour.”

“It is not safe,” she added.

Their neighborhood doesn’t have sidewalks. In addition to worrying for their safety, they’re concerned for others. 

"We have students, and just pedestrian traffic in general, having to use a street because of the lack of sidewalks,” Mario Perez said. 

Kyle has experienced explosive growth over the last decade. Many neighborhoods with consistent traffic either do not have sidewalks or have others in need of a little love. 

City of Kyle officials have listened to stories like the Perez’s while putting together their sidewalk master plan.

“The master plan would determine a comprehensive condition of the existing network, develop a ranking system for prioritizing sidewalk repairs and for constructing new sections of the sidewalk network, improving connectivity,” said Harper Wilder, Kyle’s director of Public Works. 

Kyle City Council approved the development of the master plan in February, which cost the city over $100,000. A city spokesperson told KXAN the completed plan should go before City Council in September. 

“Someone should be able to walk down a road without getting hit by a vehicle,” said Miguel Zuniga, the Kyle city council member for District 3, at a February city council meeting. 

For the Perez family, improving the walkability of their neighborhood cannot come soon enough. 

“We're not able to enjoy [being outside] in this neighborhood – not when you have our traffic,” Anita said. “It affects our quality of living here."