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Richardson city staff detailed $528 million in planned citywide capital improvement projects over the next five years at the July 13 City Council meeting.
Assistant City Manager Charles Goff said the city has 175 projects planned in transportation, drainage, water, parks and facilities, including implementing Richardson’s 2026 bond program.
“I hope you like the color orange, because we’ll be seeing a lot of it,” Goff said.
The overview
Funding for the planned projects comes from the city’s 2021 and 2026 bonds, city funds, Dallas Area Rapid Transit and outside grants.
“Never in the city’s history have we invested more in capital projects, nor have we had as many projects,” City Manager Don Magner said.
Goff covered the Year 1 plan for Richardson’s 2026 bond, which voters approved in May. The city plans to launch a range of projects across transportation, facilities and parks in FY 2026-27, although Goff said most projects will start in the design phase and residents may not see construction begin until future years.
To choose the initial projects from the $223.4 million program, Goff said the city prioritized based on project design status, funding timelines, condition, regional impact and workload capacity. The bond will be implemented throughout the city over the next six years, Goff said.
Breaking it down
The city will carry out concrete panel replacement projects and alley projects next year. A new fire apparatus building and an addition to Fire Station 6 are set to wrap up design and enter construction in the next year as well, Goff said.
Goff said the following street projects are set to begin the design phase:
The city will also begin design on Canyon Creek Pool and the pedestrian bridge and trail connection and Breckinridge Park, while construction will start on Huffhines Woods, Creekhollow and Richland playgrounds.
Both design and construction are planned for sidewalks in parts of west Richardson and sidewalk gaps across the city.
Design on the Lois Branch Phase 1 and 2 channel improvements in the Highland Terrace area and an erosion control project in the Spring Creek Nature Area will also start this year.
A closer look
Most of the projects under the city’s 2021 bond program are now complete, Goff said, including parks, drainage and most street projects.
The new Richardson Public Library and City Hall were also under the 2021 bond, and the library is expected to open in September, while City Hall is planned to open early next year. Sidewalk projects from the bond will be completed this fall, Goff said, and several street projects also remain under design and construction, including West Shore Drive and South Greenville Avenue.
Goff also detailed several special maintenance initiatives to improve intersections and streets, most of which are funded primarily through grants. Construction on the crossing at Arapaho Road and US 75 is set to begin later this year, while the crossing at Collins and US 75 will begin next year.
Under DART's new six-year funding plan, Richardson is set to receive $26.5 million through sales tax returns from the agency to use on local transportation projects. The city plans to invest the funds in street rehabilitation, with initial projects planned for Coit, Abrams and Floyd roads.
Also of note
The city has about $110 million in water and wastewater projects planned over the next five years, including annual pump station and storage tank rehabilitation and meter, valve and water line replacements.
“Most of the specific projects are about upsizing capacity to accommodate growth,” Goff said.
Major multi-year projects include Greenville Avenue sanitary sewer, where construction is expected to begin in 2027, and a sewer trunk main in Cottonwood Creek, which is in pre-design phases.
