Some of the highlights of the CIP’s first-year requests include:
Engineering
- Priority 1: $36 million for various improvements, including sign replacements, technology retrofits and MoPac pavement
- Priority 2: $26.7 million for various improvements, including sign replacements, SH 45 SW pavement and 183A Toll added capacity
Operations- Priority 1: $4.8 million for safety technology; $3.2 million for toll violation mitigation technology
- Priority 2: $3.6 million for roadway traveler communications (Bluetooth); $1.6 million for safety technology
IT- Priority 1: $46.1 million for toll system equipment replacement; $1.1 million for the Mobility Authority Data Platform
- Priority 2: $2.8 million for roadside communication units
Administration- Priority 1: $15 million for the building of or purchase of a new Mobility Authority headquarters
In total, just under $105 million of CIP priority 1, 2 and 3 projects would be requested to come from the FY 2023-24 budget.
- Priority 1 items: $83.6 million in FY 2023-24; $282.2 million over the next five years
- Priority 2 items: $12.6 million in FY 2023-24; $2.8 billion over the next five years and beyond
- Priority 3 items: $8.5 million in FY 2023-24; $22.8 million over the next five years
The takeawayAs previously reported by Community Impact, FY 2023-24’s capital budget is informed by the five-year capital improvement plan decisions. As such, Bass said it makes sense to adopt the plan alongside the FY 2023-24 budget, as its year-one projects should be part of the overall budget and years two through five are for planning purposes.
“The thought on the five-year plan would be that it is a plan, and if it were to be adopted next month, it’s not committing or directing staff to spend money on any of the projects in year two, year three,” Bass said. “It’s really [saying], ‘This is a plan; we need to start thinking about it, planning and preparing for these potential future expenditures, and potentially setting dollars aside.’”
