By Erika Webb
ewebb@hometownnewsol.com
The DeBary City Council plans to repave 13 of the city's streets this year as it enters the fourth year of a five-year program.
At a workshop on Jan. 16, GAI Consultants and city staff provided the council with a list of streets in need of repair and/or resurfacing, based on street condition and traffic load. Focusing primarily on improving safety for motorists and pedestrians, GAI also considered suggestions made by the city manager and staff, along with DeBary resident requests, to identify pavement deficiencies and determine areas for improvement.
Recommendations are "based on general engineering observations without an engineered pavement condition analysis, GAI reported.
Streets and street sections expected to be improved this year are:
East Highbanks Road, from Madera Road to Lucerne Drive
Soft Shadow Lane, North Pine Meadow Drive to Commed Boulevard
Alicante Road, Naranja Road to Valencia Circle
Sunrise Boulevard, Agua Vista Street to Margarita Road
Hollow Pine Drive, DeBary Woods
Lucerne Drive, East Highbanks Road to Madera Road
Shell Road, Benson Junction Road to Fort Florida Road
Monroe Avenue, Shell Road to U.S. 17/92
Shell Road, West Highbanks Road to Community Drive
Glen Abbey Lane, North Pine Meadow Drive/Rosehill Crescent
Matanzas Road, East Highbanks Road to Colomba Road
Mansion Boulevard, Sunrise Boulevard to Dirksen Drive
Oleander Lane, North Shell Road to Camelia Drive
The total estimated cost of the project, according to GAI, is $474,356.
Kevin Hare, the city's construction engineer with GAI, said, "These are probably conservative numbers. There's certainly room to adjust these depending on your suggestions."
In a phone interview, Mr. Hare said, "This is a preliminary list. There's the possibility of doing a little more or a little less. We're not sure what the final scope of the project will be."
Mr. Hare said his first priority was to look at the streets most residents use to get from the center of the city to U.S. 17/92 and Interstate 4.
City manager Dan Parrott said revenue from the New Local Option Gas Tax Fund and from franchise fees -- assessed against all electrical users within city limits -- will cover costs associated with the street project. For the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, $470,000 was budgeted to continue improving DeBary's streets, according to the budget proposal submitted by the city manager in September.
Cost estimates are derived from Florida Department of Transportation historical cost data and City of DeBary cost data for recent projects, according to GAI.
Council members Dan Hunt and Lita Handy-Peters commended city staff and GAI representatives for the way they've approached the street resurfacing project.
"It looks like every area is getting some attention," Council Member Hunt said. "That's good government."
Mr. Hare advised the council that Naranja and Alicante roads, as well as Second Street, will be addressed when the forthcoming sidewalk and storm water projects are completed.