For much of the last few years, Albany city officials and the council have talked about raising money to rebuild or repair local streets. This afternoon they’ll get an update on moves to collect a monthly street maintenance fee and also the possibility of a local fuel tax.
Returning from Browser’s Books via Pine Street toward Hackleman Park, the bike and I for years tried to avoid the worst potholes. Lately that has not been necessary, because a section of new pavement is in place.
For many years, a section of 12th Avenue in West Albany was notorious for its plentitude of potholes. On Sunday I discovered that the City of Albany did something about it.
Albany residents and property owners might want to get ready for the idea of paying a monthly fee for better maintenance of local streets.
As Albany drivers have noticed, part of Queen Avenue is partially closed for construction. This is the first phase of a two-phase project that has to be finished by Nov. 1.
There’s been a lot of public discussion about possible monthly Albany utility fees to shore up future city budgets, and Mayor Sharon Konopa says she’d like to make her position clear.
A pothole, a hubcap and proposed taxes
A hubcap lying in the middle of Walnut Street, not far from a rain-filled pothole, was a reminder that Albany faces decisions about possible ways to raise more money to repair streets.
Tags: damage to cars, fuel tax, gas tax, potholes, street fee, street repairs, wheel damage