The Arlington County Board approved the placement of four questions on the Nov. 2 ballot for a bond referendum on more than $208 million in County Government and Schools projects included in the Fiscal Year 2005-2010 Capital Improvement Program.
"We believe that these are wise investments in our future and hope that our residents will agree when they go to the polls in November," said Barbara A. Favola, county board chair.
The bond will fund large-scale county improvement projects, according to the county Web site, including government and school facilities, the acquisition and development of open space and recreational facilities, the improvement and conservation of neighborhoods, and the provision of transportation facilities and infrastructure.
The action by the Board on Saturday authorizes the Arlington Circuit Court to schedule the referendum.
THE REFERENDUM QUESTIONS will consist of:
* Local parks and recreation — project totaling $75.4 million, including $50 million for the North Tract project
* Transportation and Community Infrastructure — community conservation projects, transportation and pedestrian initiatives, public facility projects and storm drainage projects estimated at $35.9 million
* Metro — for construction, acquisition and rehabilitation of Metro facilities by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority at an estimated cost of $18.5 million
* Arlington County Public Schools Projects — $78.1 million for various school capital projects.
More charts can be found on page 8.
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<b>Arlington County Projects $129,875,000</b>
<b>Community Conservation $13,025,000</b>
(Includes funds for improving roads, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, streetlights and parks. Also includes funding for the Neighborhood Conservation program, which lets civic associations approve money for neighborhood improvements around the county)
Neighborhood Conservation $10,000,000
Commercial Revitalization $3,000,000
Bond Issuance $25,000
<b>Parks and Recreation $75,395,000</b>
(Includes $50 million in funds for the first phase of construction at the North Tract, a 28.6-acre park in South Arlington that would include exercise facilities, athletic fields and an aquatics center. Also includes funds for land acquisition, cultural facilities and public art)
Land Acquisition $4,000,000
Recreation Center Development $9,000,000
Park and Open Space Development $61,750,000
Public Art $500,000
Bond Issuance $145,000
<b>Public Facilities $9,769,000</b>
(Includes money for renovation or relocation of county fire stations and the fire training academy)
Fire Stations $5,000,000
Fire Training Academy $4,750,000
Bond Issuance $19,000
<b>Transport and Pedestrian Initiatives $10,195,000</b>
(Includes funding for the WALKArlington program, encouraging a pedestrian-friendly environement, improvements to county-managed streets and roads, bike paths, pedestrian trails, traffic calming projects and money to fund transit projects and improvements in the county.)
WALKArlington $1,000,000
Trails and Bikeways $325,000
Arterials $4,600,000
Neighborhood Traffic Calming $1,000,000
Transit $150,000
Transportation Preservation $3,100,000
Bond Issuance $20,000
<b> Metro $18,536,000</b>
(Includes the county’s payment to run Metro Rail and Bus services, including rehabilitation and improvement programs.)
Contributions to Metro $18,500,000
Bond Issuance $36,000
<b> Storm Drainage $2,955,000</b>
(Includes funds to eliminate flooding and erosion problems.)
Storm Drainage $2,950,000
Bond Issuance $5,000
<b>Arlington Public Schools Projects $78,128,000</b>
(Includes funds to complete reconstruction at Kenmore Middle School and the first phase at Yorktown High School, and to begin complete reconstruction at Washington-Lee High School and two community centers.)
Middle and High School $76,332,100
Kenmore $1,370,900
Washington-Lee $72,735,300
Yorktown $2,225,900
<b> Multi-Use Facilities $1,795,900
</b> Arlington Mill Community Center $935,900
Reed Community Center - Phase II $860,000
<b>TOTAL $208,003,000</b>
<b><sh>Payments</b>
<bt>Increase in payments on the county’s debt as a result of the bond referenda, if all were passed.
2005 2006 2007
County $37.3 million $38.6 million $42.2 million
Schools $24.7 million $27.3 million $30.6 million
Total $62 million $65.9 million $72.8 million