City of Salem Streets and Bridges

City of Salem
Streets and Bridges
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539 miles of paved streets
53 bridges
263 signalized intersections
195 school zone flashers
7,100 street lights
125,000 street trees
Salem’s Related Services:
Traffic Control & Signal Timing
Traffic Signal Maintenance
Pavement Maintenance
Shoulder & Alley Maintenance
Snow and Ice Response
Street Lighting
Adopt-A-Street
Fall Leaf Removal
Sweeping/Signs/ Markings
Planning for the Future
Project Design
Right-of-way maintenance
(mowing/landscaping/street trees)
The Problem
• You may have noticed problems in
your neighborhood and around
town:
– heavy traffic/congestion
– potholes & worn pavement
– bridges built before your
grandparents’ day
– Pedestrian/bicycle safety
concerns.
• You’re aware of these problems –
and so is the City of Salem
Our shared vision for Salem is a city where everyone is
connected: with easy access to jobs, schools, parks,
shopping by auto, bicycle or on foot.
Cost Pinch
• In recent years there has been a cost
pinch. Salem’s streets depend on gas
tax revenues, and they’re not
increasing.
• State gas tax has not increased since
1993
• The cost of road construction materials
has increased by more than 70 percent
since 1993.
The result is a growing
deficit.
The City Wants Your Advice
• First, there are more
problems than we can
possibly pay for. So
what are the most
urgent needs, for you?
• Are there any street
and bridge problems
that are so important
you’d be willing to pay
more taxes to solve?
• Other Oregon cities are considering:
– transportation bond measures
– local gas taxes
– street utility fees and other sources
Are any of these possible funding sources more
appealing to you than the others?