Committee Approves 2026 Street, Alley and Water‑main Projects Using Half‑cent Sales Tax and Utility Bonds

Topeka — Oct. 21, 2025 — The Infrastructure Committee approved a package of 2026 street, alley, stormwater and water main projects on Tuesday that city staff said are funded mainly through the citywide half‑cent sales tax and utilities bonds and operating funds.

Steve, a Public Works and Engineering staff member, told the committee the first approved item is a $1 million crack‑sealing program focused on Southeast and East‑Central portions of the city, planned to begin in late winter or spring 2026. "This will be a million dollar program funded through our street contract preservation program using the half cent citywide sales tax," Steve said.

The committee approved an alley reconstruction and sanitary sewer design‑build project near Southwest 7th and Southwest Clay for $1.55 million, to be funded with approximately $800,000 from the half‑cent sales tax and $750,000 from wastewater revenue bonds and operating funds.

Also approved were asphalt overlay projects: a $780,000 overlay for Northwest Clay, Taylor and Polk Streets and the south US‑24 frontage road, and a $620,000 overlay for Southeast 30th Street, Powell Street and Turnpike Avenue. Both projects were presented as part of the pavement management program and funded with the half‑cent sales tax.

The committee approved a $940,000 full pavement reconstruction and storm sewer replacement project on Southwest Gerald and Southwest 11th Streets. Staff told council members the breakdown was $890,000 from half‑cent sales tax funds and the remainder from stormwater revenue bonds and operating funds; staff also agreed to investigate a missing paved segment near 11th and Gerald that a councilmember flagged.

A full reconstruction and storm sewer replacement on Southwest Mountain View Drive between Southwest 19th and 21st Streets was approved for construction in 2026. Utilities and public works staff also presented a separate water‑main replacement project on Mountain View: the plan replaces roughly 11,000 linear feet of 6‑inch ductile‑iron main with PVC and adds about 1,400 linear feet of new 6‑inch PVC, a project staff estimated at just under $1 million to be paid from cash and revenue bonds. Construction for the water‑main work was described as roughly 120 days after notice to proceed.

All presented projects in this package received motions, seconds and committee approval by voice vote; the committee recorded approvals as carried (nominal roll indicated 3‑0 votes on items where a tally was cited).