An Asheville infrastructure wish list

President-elect Barack Obama will ask lawmakers to pass a massive economic stimulus package when he takes office, and Asheville’s elected officials want to be ready if any money comes their way.

The mayors of North Carolina’s 26 largest cities released a list of “shovel-ready” projects Friday, saying the construction of roads, public buildings and other infrastructure projects would create 100,000 jobs. Asheville’s list of ready-to-go infrastructure ranged from a $4 million Hendersonville Road sidewalk project to $80,000 for bike racks and lockers. Upgrades to city parks to make them handicapped accessible would cost $1.4 million, while $700,000 would pay for four water pumping stations for the city.

In announcing the projects, the N.C. Metropolitan Coalition said it hoped to convince the state and federal governments to steer some of the cash toward local governments.

Obama and his economic advisors are crafting a plan that would feature infrastructure spending, as well as some form of tax cuts. He is also expected to seek more money for programs such as unemployment insurance, food stamps and job training programs. The goal is to create 2.5 million jobs over two years.

Below is a look at what Asheville city leaders say are projects ready to go right now. To see the full list of all projects, some of which would take months of approval before being ready, click here to go to the Xpress Files.

Jason Sandford, multimedia editor

Hendersonville Road sidewalk $4,000,000
McDowell Street sidewalk $600,000
Beaverdam Road sidewalk $400,000
Replacement buses $4,400,000
installation of bus stops $40,000
Brian and Burton Street drainage/Roadway $400,000
Old Toll Road Drainange/Roadway $400,000
Victoria Road Drainange/Roadway $500,000
Traffic Signal at Charlotte and Edwin Place $70,000
Traffic Signal Upgrade at Charlotte and Chestnut $60,000
Complete Wayfinding Project $600,000
Bike Lockers $40,000
Bike racks $40,000
North Fork High Pressure Pumping Station $100,000
Black Mountain Pumping Station $100,000
Mills River Pumping Station $200,000
Walnut Cove Pumping Station $300,000
Upgrade parks to become ADA assessible $1,700,000

 

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9 thoughts on “An Asheville infrastructure wish list

  1. What about some sidewalks for West Asheville? We could use them. And how about a light at that horrific corner where Haywood does a 90 degree turn while intersecting with Beverly and Ridgelawn?

  2. Dionysis

    Promote clean and efficient mass transit, develop new bicycle and small motorbike routes, add some sidewalks and generally focus on developing alternatives to cars and trucks.

  3. Dionysis

    “You live in town don’t you Dionysis?

    That’s what I thought.”

    It’s good you didn’t place a bet on that; I actually live about 25 miles northwest of the city, way in the boonies. And if there were safe routes for small motorbikes, or dependable and efficient mass transit from there to the city (where I work), I’d ditch my car in a heartbeat.

  4. Dionysis

    “but there are not and I have the same problem so, like many, we depend on good roads.”

    True, of course, but that does not mean we shouldn’t be developing these alternatives. Things have to start somewhere and sometime.

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