New numbers show the city of Dallas needs to spend an extra $90 million a year on streets and $51 million on alleys just to keep them from getting worse than they are now.
Dallas must spend $141 million more a year to keep streets and alleys from decaying further, according to a City Council briefing presented Wednesday.
The figure includes $90 million more a year for streets and $51 million more a year for alleys.
The city has never reached a 2006 goal that 87 percent of streets be in satisfactory condition.
Currently just 74 percent of Dallas streets have a satisfactory grade, and some drivers may consider satisfactory less than tremendous. The 1995 goal was 75 percent satisfactory streets.
Alleys are even worse. Currently just 45 percent of alleys in Dallas are considered satisfactory. The city never set a goal for alley conditions.
Dallas council members heard the facts Wednesday but they had already heard the complaints from Dallas residents.
“It seems to me everyone in this town has either called or emailed in the last six weeks about road conditions. It’s an amazing outpouring of dissatisfaction with a city service,” Councilman Phillip Kingston said.
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The alley behind Lee Haywood’s home is one of the worst in the city.
“I’ve been here 39 years and I’ve seen it good days and bad days. And when it rains, water runs down and it’s pretty tough down in here,” he said.
Portion of his alley are blocked by high weeds, making it difficult for garbage trucks to get through.
The street in front of his home is rough, too.
“Out of 39 years they’ve paved it once and it needs paving again,” Haywood said.
Driver Janice Malone said there is a noticeable difference in Dallas street conditions compared to the suburbs.
“It’s like you’re crossing over into a whole different third world country as far as the streets are concerned and it’s just a shame,” she said. “I know Dallas can beat this.”
City staff options for Dallas streets and alleys include charging the water department more for renting water line space beneath streets, charging Dallas Area Rapid Transit for wear and tear of DART buses on city streets, splitting the cost of alley improvements with property owners, raising taxes or allowing further decline.
“And unless we really adopt some of these policy changes you’re recommending regarding funding, it’s going to move in that direction,” Councilwoman Jennifer Gates said.
Members at the briefing said they are anxious for noticeable improvements this time after past promises.
“Being honest about how much it costs and how long it takes is the first step so the taxpayers can make decisions about where they want their money spent,” Kingston said.
“I think we should have a task force for the streets and the alleys and see how do we pay for these streets and alleys,” Councilman Tennell Atkins said.
Some drivers seem willing to contribute.
“I’m willing to pay more, if the city would keep up with it,” Lee Haywood said.
Driver Janice Malone said cars take a beating in Dallas.
“It’s a trade off. You either have bad streets and have your nice car all rickety-rackety, or you pay up and pay the piper for better streets. It’s that simple. You can’t have them both,” she said.
Council members told city staff to formulate a plan including some of the new revenue options for maintenance and also borrowed money for capital improvements from a 2017 bond issue.
