About the only thing less popular than City Manager Russell Allen's raise at Tuesday night's budget hearing was the Hillsborough Street roundabout project. One speaker told the City Council that instead of spending $11 million installing roundabouts on Hillsborough it should have used that money for something more useful, like beefing of city employees pay. The comment drew a standing ovation from much of the crowd, something even the most strenuous condemnations of Allen's raise couldn't do.
It will be interesting to see whether the Hillsborough Street project becomes an issue during this fall's election. The result of more than a decade of dialogue, the redevelopment plan for the street has its supporters. But it's clear the project has its critics. And many of those critics are likely to become more vocal as the street gets torn up and inconveniences drivers.
Of course, the completed project may end up being a smashing success. But that success won't reveal itself until long after the election.
Business reporter David Bracken came to the N&O in 2004. He covers commercial and residential real estate. Contact David at 919-829-4548 or 
Comments
Roundabouts draw the ire of crowd at budget public hearing
Sat, 01/30/2010 - 02:03 — jamaicawillsonroundabouts draw the ire of crowd at budget public hearing
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 07:29 — romayour source for the freshest buzz out of Raleigh, Cary and all the communities of Wake County. From the latest action out of Raleigh City Hall, the Wake County Board of Commissioners and the county courthouse to politics and neighborhood squabbles, the Wake County team keeps you in the know.iphone crowds
I don't object to
Wed, 06/03/2009 - 15:44 — ctillI don't object to roundabouts as a concept. What I do object to, is the city's tax dollars being so lavishly thrown at one project. Up where I live, there's a stretch of Creedmoor Road that has no sidewalk on the east side of the road OR the west side. That's right, people walk in the grass to get to a CATS stop or a shopping center. Ridiculous. Meanwhile, the Mayor's pet projects get funding -- all of which are inside or along I-440, of course.
NCSU has some of the best
Wed, 06/03/2009 - 15:04 — WhalerCaneNCSU has some of the best transportation minds on the planet, and they have whole heartily embraced this project and are providing assistance. This has been a ten year stakeholder process, not to mention the improvements in pedestrian safety. The project was voted on, designed, and bonded long before this budget crisis. Cancelling it now would not save that 13 million dollars. People said same things before improvements at Glenwood South and Fayettevlle Street, and they seem to be working out. Raleigh is consistently ranked among the best places to live and work. We might consider the City Council actually knows what it is doing.