Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects present some of the most significant investments made on behalf of Portland citizens. They include infrastructure projects, like streets and the water/wastewater system; improvements to the City’s parks and trails; and refining or redesigning some of the City’s recreational amenities.
For planning purposes and to ensure that dollars spent on high-value capital improvement projects are well managed and optimized, the Portland City Council adopts a five-year CIP every year. In August, the Portland City Council approved the 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Program.
Projects scheduled for the next fiscal year include:
Akins Drive Hike & Bike Trail
Construction of a sidewalk/trail on Akins Drive is expected to start later this year or early 2019. The project was ready to start in the summer of 2017, but issues with the contractor forced the City to halt the project at that time. A portion of the funding is being provided through the Federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which is managed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Before the City could get the project back on track, it had to be resubmitted for approval to TxDOT. Approval from TxDOT is still pending.
Community Center Expansion
This project will renovate, improve, and expand the Community Center, which opened in 1995. Construction is slated to begin in November 2018.
Wildcat Drive Waterline
The City has plans to create a loop between two existing waterlines in this area, creating better service and water pressure. TxDOT will perform the work on this project as part of the agency’s widening of Wildcat Drive/FM 2986. TxDOT plans to start this project in late 2018.
Chris Andrews Boating Center
The long-awaited boat launch to allow access to Nueces Bay is scheduled to begin construction in mid-2019.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
The City is designing and building an in-house sludge disposal system that will permit Portland to become self-sufficient at disposing of the dewatered sludge product in a landfill. The project is in the design phase with construction planned to start in 2019.
Public Works Center Improvements
Phase I of this project includes construction of a new animal control facility, fueling station, parking lots and driving surfaces, and potentially, a citizen brush/bulky drop-off area to give citizens another option for disposing of large items. Construction of Phase I should be ready to start in late 2018. Phase II, which includes replacing some of the buildings and drive and access improvements, is scheduled to begin in 2021.
Capital improvement projects are those involving buildings or facilities with a total estimated cost of $100,000 or more. Capital improvement expenditures may also include the purchase of major equipment and vehicles, such as public safety/emergency vehicles, valued at more than $100,000 with a life expectancy of 15 years or more.
The CIP includes projects and purchases through 2023. Some of those projects beyond 2019 are: utility line replacements to maintain the water and sanitary sewer infrastructure, especially in older neighborhoods; a new public library, improvements to the Aquatic Center, and continued improvements to city streets.
2019-2023 Capital Improvement Program