City reports progress on $25 million public-infrastructure GO bond: resurfacing accelerated, sidewalks advanced

City staff provided Council an update April 27 on the implementation of the $25 million public-infrastructure general obligation bond, highlighting major spending on street resurfacing, sidewalk construction and bicycle connectivity.

Public works staff said nearly $15 million of GO bond funds have been appropriated to resurfacing projects across three phases, and that the program has accelerated resurfacing by roughly 40 miles of pavement that otherwise would not have been completed in the same timeframe. "By using this public infrastructure obligation funds for resurfacing we've really accelerated our resurfacing program by approximately 40 miles," the presenter said.

Staff also described sidewalk projects funded by a combination of GO bond money and NCDOT LAPP funds (which cover roughly 80% of those project costs), ongoing construction of shared-use paths, bridge preservation work and intersection improvements. Council asked specific questions about sidewalks near schools, sidewalk width (five-foot standard versus wider multimodal sections), pavement-marking budgets and prioritization of neighborhood safety projects.

Council voted to receive the report; staff said many remaining GO-bond-funded projects would go out to bid in the coming months and that remaining balances are largely earmarked for previously presented projects.