Jonesboro council receives wide-ranging capital projects update; bond funds drive sidewalks, drainage, rail and park work

City staff gave the Jonesboro City Council a detailed update Tuesday on ongoing capital projects, saying bond funds passed in July have accelerated work on road overlays, sidewalks, drainage and several park improvements.

The update, delivered by Craig, a city staff member, covered dozens of active projects and near-term milestones. "They're about a third through for the year," Craig said of the 2025 overlays, and he told council staff expect crews to continue work through the fall to meet the budget cycle. He noted the city is advancing both bond-funded and grant-funded projects in parallel.

Why it matters: the bond authorization the council approved in July is enabling projects that staff said would otherwise be delayed or paused. Several projects listed as 2026 construction or requiring outside approvals also depend on property agreements and state participation.

Staff highlighted street and traffic work: the city has completed five speed-table installations and created a policy that screens candidate streets by traffic volumes and posted speeds. Greg, a traffic staff member, summarized the screening criteria as a range of roughly 300 to 1,500 vehicles per day and posted speeds under 35 mph (with a 25 mph target for the calmer streets). Craig cautioned that on higher-volume or faster roads, speed tables can become a detriment rather than a safety feature.