UCity wins big with passage of Charlotte bonds

McCullough Drive improvements

2018 bonds money will help extend and improve McCullough Drive.

Charlotte voters gave strong approval of $223 million in general obligation bonds on Tuesday that will fund major improvements in University City as well as the rest of Charlotte.

Nearly $40 million will go just to continue improvements to streets, sidewalks and intersections along the LYNX Blue Line Extension, including a new bridge linking the University Research Park to the JW Clay Boulevard light-rail station.

Here is the run-down of what voters approved and how University City will benefit.

 

Transportation Bonds – $118.08 million – Approved 69% to 31%

The bonds will fund street and intersection projects, continued development of the Cross Charlotte Trail, upgrades to Charlotte’s traffic control system, pedestrian safety improvements, and repairs or construction of bridges, sidewalks and bikeways.

Northeast corridor improvements

In University City, about $27 million will go to ongoing improvements of streets, sidewalks and intersections along the Northeast Corridor that includes the LYNX Blue Line Extension.

Previous bond packages in 2014 and 2016, plus a planned bond package in 2020, will provide a total of $106.6 million in improvements along the Northeast Corridor from uptown to University City.

Bridge and bikeway over I-85 to link University Place and Research Park

Another $9.7 million in the 2018 bond package will help build a revolutionary vehicle-bike-pedestrian roadway and bridge linking University Research Park to the JW Clay Blvd Transit Station, the North Tryon Street business corridor and UNC Charlotte.

The total project will cost more than $25 million, including money approved by voters in 2014 and 2016. Construction is expected to start in 2020. GET DETAILS.

Cross Charlotte Trail

The 30-mile Cross Charlotte Trail project will receive another $5 million to go with the $30 million approved by voters in 2014 and 2016 bond drives.

When completed in the next decade, the paved path for pedestrians and cyclists will run from University City to Pineville via UNC Charlotte, NoDa, Uptown and southeast Charlotte. Toby Creek and Mallard Creek greenways will be part of the completed Cross Charlotte Trail. GET DETAILS

 

Housing Bonds – $50 million – Approved 68% to 32%

Housing bonds fund the city’s Housing Diversity Program. This money is matched with private investment dollars to provide affordable and well-maintained housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and throughout Charlotte.

The Housing Diversity Program not only addresses the need for new construction; it also helps preserve existing housing through rehabilitation of both single and multifamily housing units.

 

Neighborhood Improvement Bonds – $55 million – Approved 73% to 27%

Neighborhood improvement bonds fund projects that address infrastructure needs in the city’s established neighborhoods and emerging high-growth areas. They support a network of streets, sidewalks, greenways and bike lanes to better connect neighborhoods with major employment, institutional and retail areas.

In University City, some of bond money approved this week will go for continued improvements to the Prosperity Village community along I-485. LEARN ABOUT THE PROSPERITY VILLAGE PLAN

Along with the $55 million in Neighborhood Improvement Bonds approved this week, voters approved $60 million in 2014 and 2016. A final bond package in 2020 would provide $25 million more, if voters approve.

 

Progress report on Northeast Corridor Infrastructure projects

The city recently released an update on seven projects underway along the Blue Line Extension to improve connectivity between stations and nearby communities, whether traveling on foot, on bike or in a motor vehicle. Click here to view the report, published on Oct. 23.

 

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