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Council approves amended ordinance, budget amendment for Indian Trail Complete Street project
Summary
The council approved a budget amendment and ordinance increasing funding for the Indian Trail Complete Street project after updated right-of-way and construction costs; council members discussed utilities, conduits and possible revenue from conduit access fees.
The Indian Trail Town Council on March 11 approved an amended ordinance and accompanying budget amendment to finalize funding for the Indian Trail Complete Street project, the council said. Council members voted unanimously to amend the ordinance and accept the budget changes after staff reported final costs and reimbursement timing.
The council was told final right-of-way and contract costs required an additional appropriation. Todd Hunsinger, who presented the item, said the town's latest estimate required an additional $330,100 to cover final right-of-way and pay-related reimbursable costs so the town can submit a right-of-way package for North Carolina Department of Transportation review.
Hunsinger said the overall project budget now includes a CRTPO discretionary award of $1,321,600 and a Duke Energy-related undergrounding grant, bringing the total project toward $17 million. He said the town's net share is expected to be significantly smaller after state/federal reimbursement (the meeting referenced an 80/20 split on eligible costs), and staff estimated the town's eventual out-of-pocket would be about $1 million to $2 million of the total.
Council members asked whether multiuse sidewalks and betterments such as benches and lights were included; staff said sidewalks and underground conduit work are part of the construction cost while betterments such as street lights would be considered separately in the capital-improvements program and budget workshops.
One council member asked whether the town could charge third parties to use the conduits being installed. Staff answered affirmatively: once conduits are installed, the town can charge fees to third parties that run fiber through the conduits.
The council's action: A motion to approve the amended Indian Trail Complete Street ordinance and accompanying budget amendment was made and carried unanimously.
Why it matters: The Complete Street project includes right-of-way acquisition, undergrounding of utilities and multiuse sidewalks. Council members framed the work as an investment in roads, connectivity and future-proofing utility access while emphasizing the need to monitor town costs and reimbursements.
Next steps: Staff will finalize right-of-way paperwork, submit reimbursements to NCDOT and continue design and procurement steps. Funding, conduit use fees and street-light betterments will be discussed further during upcoming budget workshops and capital-improvement planning.
