Streets and Sidewalks: $157 million

The bond will fund projects to improve streets, sidewalks, and bike routes. It will also repair bridges and install traffic signals. Key projects include:

Streets and Sidewalks - Proposed Projects

Bicycle / Pedestrian Access

• State Street:  The project will add bike lanes and repair pavement on 13th Street Northeast to 17th Street Northeast. The road will be reconfigured to have one travel lane in each direction, a center turn lane, and bike lanes. The project will also include a pedestrian crossing at 15th Street, along with improvements such as new lighting, curbs, sidewalks, landscaping, and a new traffic signal at the 17th Street intersection.

• Pringle Creek Path - Civic Center to Riverfront Park (half bond funding, grant funding is anticipated for the other half): The project will build a pedestrian bridge over Pringle Creek beneath the Commercial Street bridge. It will also create a new path along Pringle Creek, running from Commercial Street under the railroad bridge to Riverfront Park. The project will include creek overlooks and an art wall. Once completed, this will connect Willamette University and downtown to Riverfront Park and Minto Island Park through a continuous pedestrian pathway across the Peter Courtney Bridge.

• Union Street Bikeway. The bond will fund the extension of bike paths on Union Street Northeast between Summer Street Northeast and the 12th Street Pedestrian Promenade. This project will complete the Union Street Family Friendly Bikeway. The section from Commercial Street Northeast to Summer Street Northeast is already funded through the City’s Capital Improvement Program.

Sidewalks

• Pedestrian Crossings projects will include features like median islands, lighting, flashing beacons in some areas, and new curb ramps and sidewalks that meet accessibility standards. Specific locations will be decided later with input from the community and approval from the City Council.

• Sidewalk infill or construction of new sidewalks for pedestrian connectivity.  The bond will also fund filling gaps in sidewalks or building new sidewalks to improve pedestrian access. Locations will be determined later through community input and City Council approval.

• Sidewalk sections or panels that need replacement will also be repaired. The locations for these repairs will be chosen later with community input and City Council approval.

Pavement Repair

Bond funds will be used for roadway projects, and include curb ramps consistent with the ADA at the following locations:

• Commercial Street SE: Fabry Rd SE to Interstate 5 interchange and 12th St Cuttoff to Boone Rd SE

• Center Street NE:  17th St NE to 24th St NE

• 12th Street SE:  Mill St SE to Hoyt St SE

• Silverton Road NE:  17th St NE to Williams Ave NE and Beacon St NE to Fisher Rd NE

• Doaks Ferry Rd NW:  Brush College Dr NW to Emerald Dr NW

• Portland Road NE:  Beach Ave NE to Northgate Ave NE

• Liberty Street SE:  Mill St SE to Trade St SE

• Madrona Avenue SE:  Peck Ave SE to Commercial St SE

Upgrade to Urban Street Standard

Bond funds will be used to upgrade existing streets to urban street standard and include new curbs, sidewalks, multi-use path or bike lanes, stormwater treatment, and streetlights with pedestrian crossings at the following locations:

• McGilchrist Street SE:  12th St SE to 25th St SE. This project will include realigning the road, adding a new traffic signal at 22nd Street, upgrading two creek crossings, and installing or expanding rail crossing warnings or barriers.

• Fisher Road NE:  From Silverton Rd NE to the East-West Curve. This project will replace the traffic signal at Sunnyview Road and add pedestrian crossings at Beverly Avenue and Devonshire Avenue.

• Pringle Road SE:  McGilchrist St SE to Georgia St SE. This project will include four pedestrian crossings near transit stops.

• Davis Road S: Skyline Rd S to Liberty Rd S This project will include a new traffic signal at the intersection of Davis Road and Liberty Road.

New Street: Marine Drive NW

• The first part of the Marine Drive project will run from Harritt Drive to Taybin Road. It will include a new multi-use pedestrian path connected to Wallace Marine Park. The project will include a new road with two travel lanes, curbs, a sidewalk on the west side, and a 12-foot-wide multi-use path on the east side. It will also include stormwater systems and streetlights. Connector streets will be added at Harritt Drive, Beckett Street, and 5th Avenue. This project is estimated to cost $23 million out of the $157 million allocated for transportation in the bond measure.

Bridge Reconstruction - Proposed Projects

Strengthen existing bridges to remove load restrictions and allow for safe crossing at:

• Liberty Street NE Bridge over Mill Creek

• 17th Street NE Bridge over Mill Creek

• Mission Street SE Bridge over Pringle Creek

• 15th Street NE Bridge over Mill Creek

Fire Engines and Equipment: $26 million

Salem's fire engines, purchased with bond funds in 2006, are now 15 years old and have reached 450,000 "motor miles." This is at or beyond the expected lifespan of the equipment based on manufacturer and industry standards. While the equipment has been maintained, repair costs and breakdowns have increased. Bond funds will be used to replace the fire engines, ladder trucks, and other equipment, such as saws and breathing gear.

New Fire Engines and Equipment

The bond funds:

• Replacement of Salem’s 15-year old fire engines 

• Replacement of ladder trucks, rescue tools like the “jaws of life” and defibrillators, medic units, vehicles for needs specific to heavy rescue, medium rescue, airfield rescue and firefighting, air support, and wildland grass fire. 

Two Additional Fire Stations: $14 million

The bond will fund the purchase of land and construction of up to two new fire stations. The City may also repurpose existing properties or otherwise relocate a station.

Sites for Future Development: Branch Libraries and Affordable Housing: $7.5 million

Bond funds will be used to acquire two properties for branch libraries on the sites of future affordable housing.

Park Upgrades: $28.4 million

The bond will fund improvements to Salem’s parks, including:

Proposed Parks Projects

Replace Playground Equipment

• Royal Oaks
• Livingston
• McKay
• Morningside
• Aldrich
• Riverfront
• Woodmansee
• Brush College
• Minto Brown Island
• Clark Creek

Restroom Facilities

• McKay School Park - new four-stall
• Bush's Pasture Park – replace eight-stall
• Cascades Gateway Park – replace four-stall
• Wallace Marine Park - replace eight-stall
• Northgate Park - new four-stall

Athletic Courts

• New tennis/pickleball courts at Highland, Hoover, and River Road parks
• Replacing multi-use athletic courts at Hoover, Morningside and Sumpter parks

Paths and Trails

• New trails and paths will be built throughout the park system, determined by community outreach and Council approval.

Upgrades at Sport Fields

• Geer Park
• McKay School Park
• Orchard Heights Park

New Fenced Dog Parks

• Geer and Fairview Parks

Park Shelters

• Bush's Pasture Park
• Geer Park
• Orchard Heights Park
• McKay School Park

Install or Repair Paved Parking Lots

• Minto-Brown Island Park, Parking Lot 2 (dog park area) and 3 (river access area). Both are complete.

Upgrades to Peace Plaza Park

• Peace Plaza at Civic Center. Bond funds would update and improve the space.

Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund: $10 million

The bond will provide funding to public and private developers to build multi-family housing that would be accessible to lower-income individuals or families.

These programs will target rents at 80% of the county’s average income level.

Technology and Cybersecurity: $17.6 million

The City uses technology to provide services to residents and businesses. Bond funds will replace outdated financial and accounting systems, create a second data center for disaster recovery, and install a backup fiber network to keep systems running if the main systems fail.

These funds will:

• Update business systems and improve cybersecurity to protect personal data.
• Replace financial and accounting systems
• Build a second data center for disaster recovery and install a backup fiber network to ensure City services continue during emergencies.

Civic Center Seismic Upgrades: $39.5 million

The bond will fund seismic upgrades to the Civic Center, which was built 50 years ago. These upgrades will make the buildings safer during earthquakes and include replacing skylights, windows, roofs, and other systems. Hazardous materials will also be removed.

Civic Center is the last 1972-era City building without seismic improvements.