Tempe considers $15M fund transfer for downtown improvement project

By Caroline Yu
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Tempe City Council recently held the first public hearing for a roughly $15 million transfer of city funds to be used for the Downtown Tempe Streetscape Improvement Project.

During council’s Nov. 21 meeting, the council held the first public hearing on the fund transfer for the project, where no public testimony or council discussion was heard. The final public hearing is scheduled for the Dec. 19 council meeting.

This project seeks to revitalize the Mill Avenue corridor from University Drive to Rio Salado Parkway by making upgrades to different dated elements and creating a new vision and appearance that revitalizes the downtown, Shelly Seyler, deputy transportation and sustainability director, explained in a city staff report.

“The proposed improvements will work toward creating a more safe, comfortable, vibrant and accessible environment for Tempe residents and visitors along Mill Avenue,” Seyler stated.

Part of the Mill Avenue streetscape project includes irrigation and electrical replacements, signal updates, pedestrian access improvement, paver and brick installation, new trees, pavement updates, ADA improvements and more.

Seyler explained that in order to provide enough funding for the remaining elements, a budget transfer is needed in the amount of $15.8 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Budget appropriations will be transferred from the water, transportation, right of way, transit, and traffic signals and street lighting capital improvement programs to the general government capital improvement program for funding the Mill Avenue project.

For more on the project, visit www.tempe.gov.

Reporter Caroline Yu can be reached at cyu@iniusa.org. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.   

Caroline Yu
Reporter | Tempe

cyu@iniusa.org

Meet Caroline
Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.  

Community:  She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events. 

Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French. 

Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years. 

Hobbies: Hiking, painting and crocheting.