Progress is being made with the public safety, infrastructure and road improvement projects approved by voters in November 2010 for the No Tax Increase Bond Election. The following is an update about how the pieces are coming together for these projects:
- Emergency Services Radio upgrade: $2 million. With the planning phase of this project complete and some equipment purchased, implementation began in January. Upon completion of the implementation in May 2012, the radio system will have several public safety-rated components in place to provide a stronger signal and meet the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate to reduce the bandwidth to 12.5 MHz by the year 2013.
- Police Facilities Upgrade: $8 million. The design phase for both the police training facility and the police detention facility is currently underway and will conclude this winter. The bid phase is tentatively set to start in the spring of 2012 and contractor selection is scheduled for completion by April of 2012. The construction is scheduled to take place from summer 2012 through fall 2013.
- Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program: $2.5 million. Throughout the City, a number of American with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps were brought up to current standards. In the spring, bids will be accepted to repair vertical offsets measuring ½- to 1-inch and to address additional non-compliant ADA ramps.
- Curb Replacement Program: $9.36 million. Two contracts have been completed that replaced 235,000 linear feet of deteriorating curbs and gutters on residential streets in 20 neighborhoods built within the last 20 years. At least two additional contracts will bid in early spring 2012
- Strother Road Improvements: $3.675 million. Currently, the City is in discussions with multiple property owners about right-of-way acquisition for the privately owned properties located between Interstate 470 and Lee’s Summit Road.
- View High and I-470 Improvements: $1 million. Transportation improvements will happen to accommodate development when it occurs in the corridor.
- Tudor Road Improvements: $10.8 million. This project, to provide access to land for future economic development, is being designed in two phases. The design of Phase 1, from Douglas Street to approximately Main, is nearing completion and the right-of-way is being acquired in order to receive bids in spring 2012. The Phase 2 design of the project, from Main to Ward Road, is underway and will involve coordination with the Union Pacific Rail Road to construct a bridge over its main line.