On Tuesday, City Council instructed staff to begin preparing for a November bond election to decide funding for a proposed $175.4 million for street improvements. The proposed street bond would look to improve city streets across multiple districts, including improvements to Broadways bricks.
While Lubbock voters have seen county and school district bond elections in recent years, it’s been over a decade since the City of Lubbock’s last. The city’s last bond election was in 2009, and saw voters approve $43 million for multiple street improvement projects, $7.5 million for three new fire stations and reject around $10 million for multiple park and recreation based improvement projects.
Councilman Jeff Griffith, chair of the Future Needs Committee, proposed these improvements alongside Councilwomen Latrelle Joy and Sheila Patterson Harris. The committee worked to compile a list of arterial streets most in need of improvement across the city, citing the improvements as a matter of public safety.
The arterial street improvements are estimated to cost around $133 million. The improvements to Broadway from University Avenue to Canyon Lakes Drive, which include a pedestrian bridge over a creek between César E. Chavez Drive and Canyon Lake Drive, are estimated to cost around $42 million.
The committee recommended the election, stating that with the rising cost of projects over time, it was important to bring these improvements to a vote this year.
"If folks want this, let our citizens approve it. We think our list is strong as far as the needs," said Griffith.
Further pricing estimates will still need to be visited before a final decision is made on what voters will see on their ballot in November. The city council is expected to revisit the November bond election in its July 13th meeting.
