Complete Document - City of Auburn

Budget Message (continued) May 28, 2002weather continually contribute to the degradation of asphalt, we realize that thiscommitment will have to be an annual one if we expect to keep our streets in excellentcondition. In addition, improving intersections to handle traffic movements more efficientlyand constructing new street segments have led to improved traffic flow through and aroundthe City over the past decade.Over the next two years, we expect to continue to have significant improvements inour street network. Donahue Drive from the campus to Bragg Avenue will be widened andsidewalks will be installed. The intersections of Magnolia/Donahue, Glenn/Magnolia, andBragg/Magnolia will be improved to allow more efficient and safer left turn movements andstraight through traffic. The most visible change to this area will be the realignment ofMartin Luther King Boulevard to connect to Bragg Avenue. The importance of this changewill be to move the intersection away from the railroad tracks, thereby improving safety atthis busy crossing. In addition, the extension of Samford Avenue to the East Glenn Avenueloop should be completed with private funding, as should the extension of Longleaf Drive toCox Road. In the Major Street Plan, we are planning to extend Veterans Boulevardeastward to connect to Southview Drive eventually. This alternative route to East UniversityDrive will lessen the traffic on EUD and on the section of South College south of ShugJordan Parkway.The major street infrastructure projects in this upcoming two-year period should bethe widening of the bridge over the Interstate on South College Street and the building ofthe new interchange near Beehive Road. Included in the South College project is thewidening of the section of US 29 from the bridge to Beehive Road and the replacement ofthe bridge over the creek along that section of roadway. Over the past several years, theMayor, Council members, and hundreds of citizens have made known their desires to seeboth of these projects happen. Since they have been long promised and delayed by theState government, we will need to continue to press for funding to be sure that they areconstructed. South College Street at the bridge is clearly the most urgent streetimprovement need the City has.We are planning to continue the aggressive sidewalk construction program that wehave had over the past several years. We will apply for TEA-21 funding for projects onNorth College Street from Drake Avenue to Shelton Mill Road, on Opelika Road from EastUniversity Drive to Commerce Drive, on Dumas Drive from Heard Avenue to SamfordAvenue, and on Woodfield Drive from South College Street to Wrights Mill Road. Inaddition, we will apply for TEA-21 funding for a bikeway on Thach Avenue fromDebardeleben Street to Ross Street. We have matching funds in the biennial budget for allof these projects.Traffic light installation is another priority of the Council addressed in the budget.We are planning for the installation of traffic lights with either City, ALDOT, or privatefunding at the following locations over the next two years: Veterans Boulevard/SouthCollege Street, South College Street/Walmart entrance, East University Drive/SouthDonahue Drive, and Wrights Mill Road/East University Drive. Alignment improvements tothe Samford Avenue/Dean Road intersection are included in the FY 04 budget. This projectshould lessen some of the traffic congestion near the two nearby schools.Employee Pay and Benefits- At the end of July, I will have been the CityManager in Auburn for 20 years. The projects that the City has completed and the changesthat the City government has made to address the needs of the community during my26