East Bank authority organizes; Metro outlines $33M in infrastructure, bike‑ped plans and timelines

Ms. Reynolds, who led the presentation to the East Bank Committee on Wednesday, said the East Bank Development Authority has taken initial steps to organize and that the administration is working toward a package of transfers and agreements to make the authority operational.

“At the time y'all passed the legislation last August, the authority really needed 5 things to really come into existence,” Ms. Reynolds said, listing a board, a CEO, assets, employees and operating funds. She told the committee the authority’s board has been appointed, the mayor’s office is conducting the CEO search, and the board “would meet once a month.”

The update to the committee summarized several concurrent items that will shape the next phases of East Bank development: (1) a capital spending plan adopted in December that includes about $33 million for East Bank infrastructure and planning; (2) planned intergovernmental agreement (IGA) language that the administration hopes the authority and Metro Council will approve this spring; (3) ongoing design work on pedestrian and bicycle circulation; and (4) the developer Fallon’s initial site sequencing and a rough construction timeline.

Why it matters: the East Bank redevelopment spans many blocks and will require large, multi‑year infrastructure investments, traffic and transit changes, and coordinated construction sequencing. Committee members pressed staff for timelines and opportunities for public input because decisions about the boulevard cross section, bicycle access and right‑of‑way acquisitions will shape how dense and walkable the new neighborhood becomes.

Key details from the presentation and discussion

- Capital spending and right‑of‑way: Ms. Reynolds said the package the council approved in December contains roughly $33,000,000 “and change” for NDOT‑related infrastructure and connectivity on the East Bank, with about $14,600,000 of that identified for…