Three bond sidewalk projects will move forward, following May 14 Asheville City Council action to approve funding for right of way acquisition and additional design services.
Council authorized the City Manager to amend a design service agreement for sidewalk design services for Johnston Boulevard in West Asheville, New Haw Creek Road in East Asheville and Onteora Boulevard in the Oakley neighborhood. All three sidewalks provide connections to neighborhood elementary schools.
Onteora Boulevard sidewalk is planned for construction in the summer of 2020. Johnston Boulevard will be built starting in the spring of 2021 and New Haw Creek Road in the spring of 2022.
The budgets for these projects were supplemented with $4 million federal transportation grants administered by the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization to fully fund the projects as proposed. Underground stormwater and sewer system relocations will have to be done in advance of sidewalk construction.
These projects will improve mobility and safety on City streets and provide pedestrian connections to local schools. Here is a link to the staff report and resolution on the Council agenda.
About the bond projects
The $74 million in bonds approved by voters in 2016 includes projects categorized in three areas: parks ($17 million), affordable housing ($25 million) and transportation ($32 million). From planning, projects move to design process and then into construction phase. Keep up with project phase, including money spent and other details, by visiting the City’s Capital Improvement Project and Bond Dashboard at this link. Find more information about the City’s Bond initiative on the City of Asheville website, under “City Projects.” Here is a direct link.