The city of Springfield announced plans to spend nearly $80 million on 114 capital improvement projects and programs during the 2018 fiscal year.

The list will need approval from the zoning and planning commission and the city council.

Twenty-two projects and programs identified in the 2017 Capital Improvements Program Plan have been completed as promised at a cost of $41.6 million.

By definition, capital improvement projects are: individual projects that are relatively large in project size and scope are estimated to cost $100,000 or more are significant, permanent or have a useful life of six years or more

include the construction of new streets, parks, storm water and sanitary sewer facilities, improvements to the landfill, airport, zoo and public facilities, buildings and grounds can include comprehensive programs which consolidate many smaller individual improvements that do not individually meet the $100,000 threshold. Examples are sidewalks, stormwater and sewer repair, signal enhancement and neighborhood improvement programs.

Can include acquisition of property, land, right of way or easements, but should not include the purchase of equipment or services. The only exception to this is when the purchase of equipment is part of the initial startup of a project that involves a new service. For example, if a new fire station is proposed for funding, the fire trucks (and other equipment meeting the criteria listed above) should be included.

City of Springfield capital improvement projects are prioritized based on their relationship to the following city council adopted priorities: Public Safety, Legislative Engagement, Fiscal Sustainability and Economic Vitality.

The planned 2018 projects include ones that are city-wide and in each of the four city council zones, with the majority of work planned for Zone 1, the City’s northwest quadrant.

“The Capital Improvements Program is a schedule and strategy for funding and planning the construction, maintenance and replacement of the infrastructure and public facilities for a six-year planning window,” said Principal City Planner Randall Whitman.

The program identifies capital projects and programs that will be funded in 2018 and those projects and programs potentially funded between 2019-2023.

Whitman said the CIP is updated on an annual basis, creating an opportunity for new projects or programs to be added and existing projects to be amended, as construction schedules and funding demands. This annual review allows projects and programs to receive consideration for funding and inclusion in the annual budget.

“The CIP also strives to align anticipated capital improvements with adopted plans, studies and related programs the City and its various departments are charged with following,” Whitman said.

The primary funding source for capital improvement projects is the 1/4-cent Capital Improvement Project Sales Tax, which has been renewed every three years by Springfield voters since its inception in 1989. Other funding sources include the 1/8-cent Transportation Sales Tax, the Level Property Tax, the 1/4-cent Parks Sales Tax, and state and federal funding. Many of the projects have already been programmed and solicited for funding in connection with the 2016 renewal of the 1/4-Cent Capital Improvement and 1/8-Cent Transportation sales taxes.

Zone 1 projects

Acquire airport snow removal equipment

Remodel and expand airport secure side restaurant

Land acquisition – new fire station, Westside/West Central Neighborhoods

Design – Frisco Lane - street improvements

Nichols Park - playground equipment, walking trail, signage, picnic tables, park benches, soccer goals

Tom Watkins Park – restrooms, support facility, playground equipment, walking trail, signage

Design - Chestnut South trunk sewer

Partnership Industrial Center West – infrastructure development

Design - Central Street improvements phase 2, Grant Avenue to Clay Avenue

Construction - College Street streetscape, Grant Avenue to Market Avenue

Division Street and Commercial Street - turn lane and safety improvements

Grand Street improvements and bridge replacement, from Park Avenue to Kansas Expressway

Grant Avenue & Route 66 streetscape, between Walnut Street and Olive Street

Main Avenue bridge improvements over Jordan Creek

Mount Vernon Street bridge improvements over Jordan Creek

US 65 and Division Street - interchange improvements

Commercial Street pedestrian ways – various locations

Design - Grant Avenue and Division Street - intersection improvements

National Avenue and Bennett Street - traffic and signal improvements

CDBG sidewalk improvements – Grand Street, Park Avenue to West Avenue

CDBG sidewalk improvements – Jefferson Avenue, Kearney Street to Turner Street

CDBG sidewalk improvements – Kansas Expressway, Talmage Street to Kearney Street

CDBG sidewalk improvements – Turner Street, Benton Avenue to Robberson Avenue.

Zone 2 projects

Design - replacement of Fire Stations 4 and 7

Design - sanitary sewer overflow reduction project - Smith Park

Design - Beechwood Heights Phase I - storm water improvements

Design - Gelven Withers Subdivision - storm water improvements

Springfield Industrial Park Subdivision - storm water improvements

Design - Cherry Street improvements, Barnes Avenue to Oak Grove Avenue

Design - Division Street improvements, National Avenue to Glenstone Avenue design

National Avenue and Bennett Street - traffic and signal improvements

CDBG sidewalk improvements – East Central Street, 1600 block

CDBG sidewalk improvements – Commercial Street, gaps from Pacific Avenue to Missouri Avenue.

Zone 3 projects

Design - Kansas Expressway extension, Republic Road to Farm Road 190

Nathanael Greene / Close Memorial Park entrance, road & parking improvements

Design - Southwest Treatment Plant solar farm

Design – Yard Waste Recycling Center, bagging plant

Design - Silsby Street - storm water improvements, Jefferson Avenue to Kimbrough Avenue

Design - Campbell & Walnut Lawn - intersection improvements

Grand Street improvements and bridge replacement, from Park Avenue to Kansas Expressway

Republic Road phase 4 street improvements, Fairview Avenue to Chase Street

Republic Road – widening & storm water improvements, between Golden Street and Route FF.

Zone 4 projects

Meador Park improvements – playground equipment, walking trail, signage, tennis courts/pickle ball

improvements, lighting, fencing

Blackman Woods - lift station relief sewer

Lone Pine Recycling Center - site upgrades

Galloway Village - Lone Pine storm water improvements

Design - Linden Avenue and Latoka Street - storm water improvements

Ravenwood South Subdivision Phase II - storm water improvements

Battlefield Street & Fremont Avenue - intersection improvements

Design - Campbell Avenue & Walnut Lawn - intersection improvements

Eastgate Avenue / Mill Street - intersection improvements

Fremont Avenue, Battlefield Street to Sunset Street – street improvements

Design - Galloway Street improvements - Luster Avenue to Lone Pine Avenue

Primrose Street improvements - South Avenue to Kimbrough Avenue

The Link – Cox Health Systems campus.

City-wide projects include a reforestation and landscaping program, school sidewalks, sidewalk/curb/gutter and ramp construction, floodplain acquisition and stormwater improvement, bicycle routes signs and markings, neighborhood improvements and the Neighborhood Works program.

Whitman added that the development of the 2018 Capital Improvements Program represents a collaboration between multiple city departments, resulting in a comprehensive database of all public improvement needs planned everywhere in the city, from the airport to the zoo.

The Capital Improvements Program fulfills the city’s charter requirement that the city manager shall “... secure an estimate of all capital projects pending and of those which it is recommended should be undertaken (a) within the budget year and (b) within the next five succeeding years.”