Interest on sales tax funds used to fund speed table projects in Albany

ALBANY — The city of Albany eased over a speed bump this week in navigating how to pay for speed-control devices that were on the list for approval.

The Albany City Commission approved speed tables, meant to slow speeding drivers, on five streets.

Prior to the Tuesday regular meeting, city staff told commissioners the previous week that the pool of money earmarked for the devices was close to being exhausted. The funding was allocated from a transportation special-purpose local-option sales tax approved by voters in 2019.

On Tuesday, City Manager Steven Carter said the additional funding needed would come from interest earned on bank accounts holding the T-SPLOST funds.

Studies are under way on several additional streets to determine whether they meet the criteria for the placement of traffic-calming devices.

The projects approved on Tuesday included the 1100 block of Eager Avenue, the 1300 block of Whitney Avenue, the 700 block of South Shadowlawn Drive, the 2600 and 2700 blocks of Yorktown Avenue, and the 600 block of Lippitt Drive.

All of the streets approved met the criteria for problem speeding through neighborhoods and garnered enough support from residents who live in the area where they are to be placed.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]