In case you missed the memo, get ready for construction to start on Monday (Sept. 9) on a downtown section of Washington Street in Albany.
While the Albany City Council considers a new street maintenance fee, a council majority also wants to explore a local fuel tax and a bond issue to fund street repairs.
More than one-third of Albany’s streets are in poor condition, the city staff says. That’s 52 miles of pavement, and there is no money in the city budget to get them fixed.
At City Hall, Albany officials are taking another stab at finding a way to pay for maintaining and repairing streets. It will take more than a year of meetings, discussions, and public “outreach.” Wish them luck, for the chance of solving this issue is small.
Fir Oaks Drive winds through a posh neighborhood in southwest Albany that is less than 45 years old, and its crumbling pavement illustrates a dilemma that property owners and city officials face: When the street was built, nobody thought of the future and set aside money to keep it in good shape.
Unless you live there, you probably avoid Albany’s Fifth Avenue east of Lyon Street because of of its rough pavement. Camera in hand, I took a ride there Friday to illustrate just how bumpy the surface is.
Mayor passes Albany street fee ordinance
Mayor Alex Johnson II provided the deciding vote Wednesday in favor of an Albany ordinance authorizing the city to collect a monthly fee for street maintenance and repairs.
Tags: Albany council, potholes, street maintenance fee, street repairs, street tax