Sitting in detour traffic at the intersection of Glen and Donahue under the wrath of mid-August heat would appear disconcerting to most.
However, the requests of residents and business owners are being satisfied as the city undergoes a plethora of local projects that are reshaping the way citizens commute to, live in and view Auburn.
The Auburn City Council held its Mid-Biennium Budget Review on Aug. 12 to amend the original 2009-2010 budget and plan for future spending.
Charles Duggan , Auburn city manager, discussed that despite the nation's weak economy Auburn has fared well in comparison to other small cities. This in part to a conservative budget and the stabilizing prescience of the University.
How people travel within Auburn was among the most discussed topics of the evening. Several public works projects are underway to make Auburn more pedestrian friendly and ease congestion. Pedestrian improvements on St. James and North Donahue drives as well as Gay Street and Magnolia Avenue are being worked on while a project to install solar-powered LED illumination on most mid-block crosswalks in the city has already been completed. The city is securing grants for more crosswalk projects in the future.
Auburn is working hard to ease its congestion pains. Plans to ease congestion include redesigning intersections, widening and resurfacing roads. Jobs nearing completion include rebuilding the intersections at Donahue and Magnolia and Donahue and Glen, widening of Dean Road and Donahue Drive, a realignment of Highway 14, and the repaving of Magnolia Avenue.
Auburn will use $1.25 million in transportation stimulus funding to continue resurfacing projects in 2010. Future plans may include pullouts for Tiger Transit stops; however, little information is being provided at this time.
While a great deal of emphasis was put on roads and sidewalks, Auburn received many improvements to the community such as renovations of the Boykin Community Center, the Frank Brown Recreation Center and a $336,000 renovation of the Samford Pool Facility. A partnership with Auburn City Schools also made it possible to resurface the Samford Tennis Courts. Other funding is being sent to purchase of a new recycling truck to supplement the expansion of Auburn's recycling program.
How is the community reacting to these projects? According to the 2009 Annual Citizen Survey Auburn residents are extremely satisfied. Between 2008 and 2009 satisfaction with the city's streets and overall appearance has increased 6 percent. Satisfaction with congestion management grew 7 percent. So far approval ratings seem to show an overall satisfaction.
The city will continue aggressive infrastructure and transportation projects well into the next year.
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