The city of Dallas is holding “round two” of hearings on the proposed 2012 bond program. Monday night, council members Tennell Atkins and Jerry Allen kick off three weeks of hearings in each of the council districts. The goal is to hear what projects Dallas residents want included in the bond package.
City Manager Mary Suhm is recommending $600 million in public improvements. That’s the most new debt the city can take on and meets a portion of its needs. Half of the $600 million would go to flood control and drainage: with the focus on three key areas: State Thomas, uptown; neighborhoods around Baylor Medical Center and Fair Park, plus the Farmers Market and the downtown “canyon” freeway area.
More than $200 million would be dedicated to street repair and upgrades. That proposal also includes new hike and bike trails and 32 miles of bike lanes, as streets are restriped. The remaining money would go for economic development projects.
A final vote on projects in the bond package comes in August.
