The city of Vancouver is considering new street funding recommendations from a commission composed of business, neighborhood, community and council representatives.
During Monday night’s Vancouver City Council meeting, the Mayor’s Committee on Streets Funding presented its recommendations for phased-in funding increases that would be dedicated to improving pavement conditions, enhancing safety and mobility, upgrading substandard core streets and increasing median maintenance and street sweeping.
Funding for the commission’s recommendations would come from new vehicle license fees, an increase in the business license surcharge and an increase in the tax on city-owned utilities. In addition, recommendations call for the city to dedicate its share of new state gas tax revenues to streets.
Recommendations are expected to go to the city council for further consideration on Oct. 26, with the potential to advance to a public hearing and decision on Nov. 2. If approved, recommendations would result in an additional estimated $4.3 million for streets in 2016, ramping up to an estimated $10.5 million in 2021.
The city council hopes to adopt a street funding program that provides reliable, dedicated, long-term funding for city streets by the year’s end.
To view the Commission’s recommendations in more detail, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/betterstreets.