(Preliminary Only)
Priority I
- Benton Street - From East Park to Race
- Country Club Road - From Beebe-Capps to Cecil Tedder Drive
- North Ella from Beebe Capps to Arch and pick up past the school to Holmes Road
- Holmes Road from North Ella to Hwy 16
Priority II
- Booth Road from Main to Honey Hill (36 south by-pass)
- North Main from Moore to By Pass Road (36 north by-pass)
- Davis Drive from Moore to newly widened area
Priority III
- Country Club Road from Cecil Tedder Drive to Co. Club E/W
- Country Club West – East to Honey Hill Road
- Sawmill Road to Beebe-Capps
The Scope of these above projects would include right/of/way acquisition, widening, drainage, curb and gutter (where appropriate), sidewalks, lighting, and resurfacing improvements.
The streets have been prioritized at this time on the basis of safety first, especially surrounding our public school properties, safety along hazardous byways, improving flow of traffic, offering pedestrian and bicycle alternative routes, and aesthetics (landscaping and green space).
Other safety – (traffic control devices) – signalizations at City intersections – round-a-bouts, lighting and signage would be considered as a separate improvement project.
A major source of concern for Searcy is compliance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements concerning sidewalks, parking and safety routes. The City ADA Task Force is working toward prioritizing projects and insuring funding on a recurring annual basis for improvements through out the city. Priority one is currently focusing in the Downtown area insuring that remedial efforts on existing intersections and sidewalks meet ADA standards. The City currently has a budget of $75,000 to add sidewalks along the newly resurfaced Pleasure Street that will help gain access to the business district of the downtown area, as well as a direct focus on the courthouse square and adjacent streets surrounding the courthouse on opposite side of street. Specially referring to North Spring (Arch to Race), West Arch (Spring to Spruce), North Spruce, (Arch to Race) and along North side of Courthouse on Race. The City’s ADA Task Force has set a $75,000 amount to be designated annually for ADA projects and improvements.)
City would like to utilize grant dollars to supplement the projects surrounding the schools. The Safe Route to School (SRTS) Grants (AHTD sponsored) can be used for pedestrian & bicycling safety education, construction of sidewalks and installation of flashing traffic signs along roads adjacent to schools.
Other sources of revenue would include severance tax dollars, which should result in approximately $450,000 annually beginning in 2009 for City Street Funds. In anticipation of our population growth, City Street Fund Turnback should also increase in 2011 significantly, as well as increased sales tax revenues.
Other alternatives to funding would be specified tax sale initiative or increased property taxes for road improvements. Natural Gas royalty revenue is another anticipated source once any drilling commences within sections of the County that include City leased properties with Chesapeake.
The City also intends to look at relocating designated Street Department employees to a Maintenance Division funded through its General Fund, which would free up approximately $430,000 annually to apply toward street and street infrastructure improvement projects. However, there would need to be a source of revenue in GF in order to supplement and support this change.
Time Tables for Priority Projects:
Subject to Grant dollars and Revenues sufficient to manage currently.
Year 2009 – would like to begin Priority I Projects – dedicated all Severance tax dollars toward projects and/or royalty dollars.
Year 2010-11 – Priority II.
Year 2012 and beyond – Priority III.
MISSION: to insure Searcy continues a planned pattern of growth to meet our transportation and safety needs, continuing a focus toward economic security for our future.