The city of Gainesville will use the first proceeds from the new infrastructure surtax passed last year to resurface, restripe and add bike lanes to a one-mile section of North Main Street between 39th and 53rd Avenues.
The city estimates a cost of $1.2 million for the project. Capital projects from the infrastructure side of the one-cent surtax will fall under the city’s Streets, Stations & Strong Foundations (SSSF) program to differentiate from the Wild Spaces Public Places projects funded by the other half of the surtax.
The North Main Street project started earlier in December and should finish ahead of schedule in February, and a second road project for NE 9th Avenue will begin with public input early next year.
Gainesville’s Public Works Director Brian Singleton said the department will see what residents would like improved on the roadway. In a city release, Singleton also said five building projects will be looked at under the SSSF program.
Commissioner Reina Saco said in a city release that it’s exciting to see the physical result from the expanded surtax.
“The City of Gainesville doesn’t have control over many roads inside our city but it is good to see staff and our contractors ahead of the game on the roads we do control,” said Saco. “Making our streets, our sidewalks and our bike lanes safer for everyone is one of the best investments we can make with these funds.”
Both Alachua County and the Florida Department of Transportation control many major roads within Gainesville’s city limit. The city has no direct power to make changes on those thoroughfares, including NW 23rd Avenue, 34th Street, University Avenue, 13th Street and portions of NW 8th Avenue.
Alachua County has tripled its road budget with a boost from the surtax. The county released a map in October that shows what roads will be repaired over the next decade.
The surtax is estimated to collect $8.7 million per year for the city to use on the SSSF projects.
Leave it to the city to work on a rarely used road for the first road improvement!
No traffic to slow down your work!!
Let’s figure this out. $8.7 million at $1.2 million per mile = 7.25 miles of improvements.
That sounds like there’s not going to be a whole lot of improvements.
Car lots and woods on N. Main between 39th and 53rd. Nothing wrong with that road.
Just another example of the state of city government. To much tax revenue, to little common sense (BRAINS).
As someone who drove it nearly every day before, I have to say the new road and the bike lane are a very much needed improvement. And given the plans for community building on the NE side, a pretty smart investment because it is one of few connecting roads between 39th and 53rd.