Carmel to invest $۲۱۷m in road infrastructure projects

TIN news:  The City of Carmel in the US state of Indiana is planning to invest $217m on road infrastructure projects over the next three years to provide an improved mobility and traffic safety.
The investment will be used for road improvement works which will include almost 30 roundabouts, land acquisitions and storm water upgrades in the city.
The plan also includes the redevelopment of the congested Keystone Parkway, the 96th Street intersection, and new roundabouts at Rangeline Road and Carmel Drive and Rangeline and Executive Drive.

"The projects for storm water and traffic flow will have a particularly positive impact on every neighbourhood in the central district."

The majority of Carmel natives will have to pay slightly increased property taxes to pay for the projects, the first time since 1993.
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard said: "Our residents made it very clear in May that they want us to continue to invest wisely in our community, focusing on projects that make our roads safer, our commute times shorter and the time we spend with our families longer.
"It's important that we make these investments while we are a growing city so future generations can benefit from our shared community vision to create the best city in which to live, work and play in the Midwest."
According to Brainard, the improvement plans will call for more businesses, jobs and private commercial investments in Carmel.
Brainard added: "We recognise that public investments do not come without cost. But spread out over time and across a landscape of more than 31,000 homes and 1,000-plus commercial properties, the average homeowner in a $200,000 house is going pay just $22 more per year.
"Interesting, too, is the fact that homes valued over $345,000 will see no increase at all because they have reached the constitutional cap of 1% of gross assessed value."
The City Council will consider 13 ordinances to authorise bonds and funding arrangements to pay for its project during its meeting on 04 January 2016.
City councilman-elect Bruce Kimball said: "After working with city staff and the mayor I am pleased with the list of projects that I believe will benefit all of Carmel.
"The projects for storm water and traffic flow will have a particularly positive impact on every neighbourhood in the central district."
Local, state and federal money will be used to fund most of the projects.