A remodeled fire station, roadway extension and citywide pavement replacement are in the works thanks to bond funding approved by voters in 2016.
City council members received an update on capital improvement projects for 2018-2019 in a May 8 workshop presentation. This year, Allen will issue approximately $9.2 million of $93.2 million in bond funding to be distributed over seven years.
This year's funding will be dedicated to several projects, including:
- The complete renovation and reconfiguration of Central Fire Station, beginning late 2018: $5.65 million
- Adding lanes to Ridgeview Drive: $1.5 million
- Citywide pavement replacement, ongoing through fall 2019: $800,000
- Signal and intersection improvements, ongoing through fall 2019: $740,000
- Central Business District street reconstruction: $500,000
The project list was compiled by citizen-led steering committees beginning in 2015, before bond funding was put to a citywide vote. In May 2016, voters approved all five bond propositions, dedicating $27 million in new funding to Parks and Recreation projects, $16 million to the building and remodeling of public facilities, $24 million to streets and drainage projects, $24.4 million to public safety projects, and $1.8 million to public art.
Allen's excellent bond rating helped minimize costs to taxpayers. For residents of a home appraised at $200,000, the financial impact of the bond projects was estimated to be no more than $8 per year.
Several bond-funded projects are already under construction or operational, including:
- 106 new parking spaces at Allen Public Library, added in fall 2017
- A police firearms training center, built and funded in conjunction with Collin College and the City of McKinney, opening by fall 2018
- New landscaping and lighting in numerous Allen medians, being installed beginning this spring
Learn more about the 2016 capital improvement program.