$1 million for road paving in north Cape gets council’s vote
City Council unanimously approved spending $1 million for paving roads north of Kismet Parkway on Monday.
The roads to be paved were identified by city staff, or “graded,” as less then 40 percent in overall condition.
Transportation Director Steve Neff compared the “grading” system to that used in schools, saying the 40 percent was comparable to a failing grade.
Roads graded 40 percent or less were eyed for repaving, according to Councilmember Kevin McGrail, who, along the Transportation Advisory Commission, worked to make the money available.
The money was taken from the 6-cent gas tax fund, which was previously redirected to pay for a UEP lawsuit.
Now that money is being directed to road paving, a move that northwest Cape resident Nancy Patti said is long overdue.
Patti’s road is fine, she says, but she supports the paving project because something needs to be done.
“They’re deplorable,” Patti said of the roads. “This is long overdue.”
McGrail said his goal was to get all the roads repaired that need it, but that would require $5 million or more.
Starting with $1 million, and possibly another $900,000, was a good place to start, according to McGrail.
“My goal is to work with those residents in effected neighborhoods and make a plan, and hopefully get the most cost efficient road work we can,” he said.
Members of council warned McGrail that repaving some roads and not others could cause dissent among residents in north Cape.
“No matter where we start, the other people are going to want their’s done,” Councilmember Bill Deile said.
Mayor John Sullivan said he feels the people in north Cape were “shortchanged,” because their roads have been neglected.
With the utilities project looming for years, Sullivan said north Cape residents were living under false assumptions.
“It was always assumed the city didn’t want to pay any money to rebuild those roads because the assumption was utilities would come through,” Sullivan said.
It has yet to be determined if the remaining $900,000 will be pledged for continued road work in the north Cape.