A City of Stillwater Critical Need:
Transportation Improvements
About the Projects
Improving street conditions has always been a top priority for Stillwater residents; however, substantial, continuous investment is needed. When considering improvements, the City of Stillwater follows its Multi-Modal Transportation Policy. The policy guides the creation of a transportation system that provides connectivity and promotes consistent movement of all modes of traffic. People of all ages and abilities should be able to safely move along the transportation corridors within our community, regardless of how they are traveling.
Current Half-Cent Transportation Sales Tax
The current Half-Cent Transportation Sales Tax generates enough funding (about $4 million annually) to maintain Stillwater’s streets at their current level (usually projects identified through the Pavement Management Program). Any additional projects or improvements are not funded, which is why the City has identified transportation improvements as a critical need. As sale tax collection continues to decline, so does the amount generated by this tax.
Type of Projects Needed
-
Complete street reconstruction
-
Street resurfacing
-
Street widening
-
Pedestrian and bicycle paths
-
Rehabilitate and replace bridges
-
New turn lanes at intersections
-
New traffic signals that are accessible to people with disabilities
Community Benefits
-
Smoother streets to reduce wear and tear on vehicles
-
Better traffic flow and reduced congestion
-
Safer streets for all drivers, cyclists and pedestrians
-
Less travel time
How will projects be selected?
City staff are in the process of reviewing the quality of Stillwater’s streets. As this information is updated it will be shared with City Council who may use it when developing bond propositions for transportation improvements.
These reports include the following:
-
Stillwater Transportation Enhancement Plan (STEP) looks at current street deficiencies and future needs.
-
Pavement Management Program identifies appropriate maintenance strategies (preventative maintenance, rehabilitation, reconstruction, deferred maintenance) for each street based on their condition and use.
-
Traffic counts. The City gathers traffic count data on city streets to identify which routes are used.
Monty Karns serves as the Transportation and Stormwater Services director.
You may reach him at 405.533.8491 or mkarns@stillwater.org.
