Transportation measures are expected to take center stage at a busy meeting of the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission tonight. Commissioners are expected to vote on a final list of projects forTSPLOST 2023, which, if passed, will be in front of ACC voters in May.
The TSPLOST proposal includes some $9.7 million to transition much of the county’s fleet of vehicles, including buses, to electric vehicles. Another proposed project would earmark $25 million to Athens Transit to maintain fare-free service.
But, the $144.5 million TSPLOST package isn’t the only transportation item on the agenda. Commissioners will also get a chance to approve a repaving program, with about 192 miles of county roads up for resurfacing and a price tag of $8.8 million.
The heavily-trafficked Prince Avenue corridor will also get some attention from Commissioners, with a list of priority improvements up for a vote. Funding for those improvements will come from TSPLOST 2018 funding. The list, which started with 113 projects, has been narrowed down to 25 projects. It includes the addition of midblock crossings at Georgia Ave and Sylvia Circle, protected bike lanes, and improvements at various intersections, among other proposed improvements to Prince Avenue from Sunset Drive to Pulaski Street.
Beyond transportation measures, Commissioners are expected to discuss and vote on a request from the ACC Police Department to purchase new ballistics identification technology at a cost of just over $207,000. Police officials say the Integrated Ballistics Identification System will help them investigate gun-related crimes, which have grown in recent years.
The regular session meeting is tonight at 6:00 PM and will be virtual. The meeting can be viewed on ACC YouTube and Facebook pages.
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