The Austin City Council heard feasibility reports on proposed street improvements for 2020 during its regular meeting Monday evening.

Assistant City Engineer Mitch Wenum went over the details of each proposed street project.

The Public Works Department is looking to make improvements on the following Austin streets:

10th Street Northeast/Southeast (Oakland Place Southeast to Second Avenue Northeast) and Fourth Street Southwest (Oakland Avenue West to First Avenue Southwest)

• Remove existing asphalt pavement (Fourth Street Southwest) existing concrete pavement (10th Street Northeast/Southeast), curb and gutter and deficient sidewalk;

• Replace streets with concrete pavement and aggregate base;

• Storm sewer upgrades and storm water detention structure on 10th Street Northeast/Southeast;

• Replace sanitary sewer mains and manholes as needed;

• Provide ADA pedestrian ramps at intersections and upgrade existing deficient sidewalk; and

• Water and electrical work by Austin Utilities (AU).

The estimated cost for this project is $1,275,000 with funding broken down as follows:

• Municipal State Aid – $800,000

• WWTP Fund 61 – $250,000

• SWUD Fund 67 – $225,000

Fifth Street Southwest (First Avenue Southwest to Fifth Avenue Southwest), Sixth Avenue Southwest (Fourth Street Southwest to Sixth Street Southwest) and Seventh Street Southwest (Fourth Avenue Southwest to Fifth Avenue Southwest)

• Removal of existing asphalt pavement, curb and gutter and deficient sidewalk;

• Replace with new curb and gutter, asphalt pavement and aggregate base;

• Upgrade storm sewer;

• Replace sanitary sewer mains and manholes as needed;

• Provide ADA pedestrian ramps at intersections and upgrade existing deficient sidewalk; and

• Water and electrical work by AU.

The estimated cost for this project is $900,000 with funding broken down as follows:

• Assessment Bonds – $750,000

• WWTP Fund 61 – $50,000

• SWUD Fund 67 – $100,000

Fifth Avenue Northeast (Oakland Place Northeast to 19th Street Northeast)

• Removal of existing asphalt pavement, curb and gutter and deficient sidewalk;

• Replace with new curb and gutter, asphalt pavement and aggregate base;

• Upgrade storm sewer;

• Replace sanitary sewer mains and manholes as needed;

• Provide ADA pedestrian ramps at intersections and upgrade existing deficient sidewalk; and

• Water and electrical work by AU.

The estimated cost for this project is $600,000 with funding broken down as follows:

• Assessment Bonds – $425,000

• WWTP Fund 61 – $100,000

• SWUD Fund 67 – $75,000

Seventh Street Northwest (Eighth Avenue Northwest to 13th Avenue Northwest) and Ninth Avenue Northwest (Fourth Street Northwest to Eighth Street Northwest)

• Removal of existing asphalt pavement, curb and gutter and deficient sidewalk;

• Replace with new curb and gutter, asphalt pavement and aggregate base;

• Upgrade storm sewer;

• Replace sanitary sewer mains and manholes as needed;

• Provide ADA pedestrian ramps at intersections and upgrade existing deficient sidewalk; and

• Water and electrical work by AU.

The estimated cost for this project is $1,225,000 with funding broken down as follows:

• Assessment Bonds – $950,000

• WWTP Fund 61 – $100,000

• SWUD Fund 67 – $175,000

The council voted to hold public hearings on each street project during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Wenum also discussed a feasibility report on the construction of a sidewalk on the south side of Fourth Avenue Northwest between 12th Street Northwest and 14th Street Northwest. The project would cost an estimated $50,000 and would be funded by $45,000 from assessment bonds and $5,000 from the Capital Improvement Revolving Fund. Because the Public Works Department needs to receive bids for that project, the public hearing date will take place during the council’s regular meeting on Monday, May 4.

The council voted 4-2 in favor of moving a proposed assessment rate increase of five percent to the next regular meeting agenda during the work session following Monday’s meeting. The increase is up from Wenum’s recommended four percent increase. Councilman Jeff Austin (At-Large) and Councilwoman Laura Helle (First Ward) cast the dissenting votes.

These rates are assessed to the adjacent property owners and apply to the residential and commercial/industrial assessment rates. It was determined that 20.4 percent of local street project costs were assessed to adjacent property owners in 2019.

The council will officially vote on the assessment rate increase at its next regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21.