The decision to start work on the project was made by the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization on Wednesday, Jan. 4.
Mayor Rick Lott announced at a City Commission meeting Monday, Jan. 9, that Alexander Street will be fully resurfaced in 2018.
The decision and funds to resurface the street comes from the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 4.
The intersections of both Jim Johnson Road and Alexander Street and Alexander Street and James L. Redman Parkway will also receive improvements after the resurfacing project is completed, with design funding allocated for the 2021 fiscal year.
Design funding for both intersection improvements are allocated at $100,000 each, with an estimated $2 million each for construction.
Bids are currently out for the Alexander Street resurfacing project.
“That’s been a request we’ve had for a long time now,” Lott said. “It’s currently a city street, but we are swapping ownership of it with the state for Paul Buchman Highway, which is currently being resurfaced. Alexander Street is one of the highest-ranked streets in the county in need of resurfacing.”
Lott said that the Alexander Street resurfacing project has been on the MPO’s list of projects for over a decade.
“Our district secretary is getting current projects funded instead of creating new projects,” Lott said, noting that the district had a 25% increase in funding this year. “I think we’re all together and sharing the excitement about what’s before us.”
Prior to the approval of the project by the MPO, the City’s primary hope for resurfacing Alexander Street came out of a proposed referendum for a half-cent sales tax by the Hillsborough County Commission.
If approved by voters, the half-cent sales tax would have provided the City of Plant City with over $20 million over 10 years for road resurfacing projects, with $2,370,000 allocated for Alexander Street. However, the referendum was shot down by Hillsborough County Commissioners at a June 2016 meeting.
Now, the long-awaited project will see fruition in 2018.
The announcement comes at the right time for those trying to promote growth within the city. In late 2016, the City of Plant City announced that the Community Redevelopment Agency had issued a Request for Qualifications for the development of Midtown, inviting 60 potential developers to attend a meeting about the project. The City has invested $4.5 million into preparations for redevelopment.
Street improvements have been made in the direct Midtown district, as well. The City received a $700,000 grant to enhance roads from Laura Street to Alabama Street.
“This is a good way to start out 2017,” Lott said.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
