Brian Lewis/The Gazette Al Carr of Kensington would like a sidewalk built on the western side of Connecticut Avenue, across the street from Temple Emmanuel.

Carr, who lives on Washington Street, would like the county to build the sidewalk between the end of his road and Dresden Street.

"I see people walking along there from time to time, and it's very dangerous. I'm afraid someone's going to get killed there," Carr said. "It's really difficult to see when you're pulling out of my driveway onto Connecticut."

The sidewalk idea has met some resistance, however. Critics say a sidewalk would cause more problems by drawing people to a spot that is too dangerous to use.

"I wouldn't walk there for nothing, the way cars zoom down here," said Robert Payne of Rockville, a trustee of Kensington Baptist Church, located along the section of Connecticut Avenue where Carr wants the sidewalk.

"I wouldn't want a sidewalk to go in there and invite kids on skateboards and bikes because it's a highway," Payne said. "It's dangerous just to be a few feet from it."

The proposed sidewalk would be partly in the incorporated Town of Kensington and partly in Chevy Chase View, another incorporated neighborhood with Kensington addresses.

At a Jan. 16 meeting, the Chevy Chase View Council voted to support the sidewalk request. The Town of Kensington has not taken a position on this issue.

"It's a very dangerous street, and there are a lot of accidents," Chevy Chase View Council chairman Jean Noonan said. "It's not very pedestrian-friendly."

Carr plans to submit an official application to the county soon.

Jim Stiles, who processes such applications, said the county grants about 40 of the 100 requests it receives each year.

"We do have a backlog of about 200, maybe as high as 250, requests in," Stiles said.

After receiving a sidewalk request, the county Department of Public Works and Transportation typically conducts an engineering study. The county considers the available space, terrain, drainage conditions, amount of traffic, and support from the community.

The county informs applicants and neighbors if a sidewalk is needed. The community then has a chance to respond in writing before the county starts pouring concrete.

Procedures for a sidewalk request are outlined on the engineering services division's Web site at http://engineering.dpwt.com/admin/alterintro.html.