Denton Budget Focuses on Street Improvements

Transportation and mobility are priorities

The Denton City Council put its stamp of approval on the city's new $587 million budget Tuesday night.

The budget increases spending on transportation and mobility in the city.  Council members said it's a priority to fix bad roads and make them safer for bikers and pedestrians.

Making streets more accommodating for all forms of transportation is a major issue for the new budget.

"A survey of citizens said a lot about the dissatisfaction with the quality and upkeep of our streets," Councilman Dalton Gregory said.

The City Council listened to the residents' concerns and is pumping money into funds that will improve mobility.

For the first time, a fund has been set aside for street improvements. The money for the fund will come from franchise fees and bond debt savings.

"Everybody uses the streets. We have to pay more attention to the streets and use more money to keep those up," said Gregory.

The budget for street maintenance increased from $2.8 million to $3.5 million, but it's still not as high as the city would like.

"We need to be spending $10 million on streets to keep them at at the level they are at now," said Gregory.

The city also plans to spend $100,000 on a bicycle and pedestrian plan.

"Everybody I know rides a bike, and if you just stand on the street, you will see someone riding a bike," said Denton resident Leah Gray.

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