With little room left to grow, Texas city puts over $7 million into aging roads and sidewalks

With less than 8% of its land left undeveloped, Allen, Texas, is turning its attention to caring for the roads and sidewalks residents already rely on, according to City Manager Eric Ellwanger.

Allen has put more than $7 million into repairing aging infrastructure this year, including work in two older neighborhoods.

Here's what to know

Of Allen's approximately 110 neighborhoods, more than 60% have reached the 25-year mark, Mayor Chris Schulmeister said, according to Community Impact. About $2.2 million of the infrastructure spending is going toward improvements in Hillside Village and Greengate.

June marked the completion of Hillside Village's roadway work, according to Allen Communications Manager Kristi Soto. The $123,248 project applied slurry seal to roughly 20,500 square yards of road surface.

Greengate's $2.15 million project will replace 109 ramps and 50 alley approaches, along with 63% of sidewalk panels within the neighborhood and nearby sections of Allen Heights Drive, according to Allen city documents cited by Community Impact. Completion is expected by winter 2027.

Allen's spending on street and alley repairs under the initiative has exceeded $12 million since 2022, Community Impact reported. The 2026 Street and Alley Rehabilitation Project carries a $4.87 million price tag, with completion anticipated in spring 2027.

More background

Rehabilitation and reinvestment should receive at least equal attention in a maturing Allen, City Manager Eric Ellwanger said, pointing to the dwindling supply of undeveloped land.

Avoiding larger repair bills later is one reason to maintain existing infrastructure now, Director of Engineering Chris Flanigan said. That upkeep also improves residents' quality of life.

The work is financed through bonds, general fund money, and leftover funds from completed projects, according to Community Impact. Local property and sales taxes together provide roughly 68.9% of general fund revenue under the 2026-27 fiscal budget, according to city documents.

Schulmeister described Allen as having a "diverse tax base and solid financial footing."

Director of Engineering Chris Flanigan said commercial property and sales tax revenue reduce residents' financial burden compared with communities that rely more heavily on households to pay for infrastructure.

What's being done?

In 2022, Allen used federal funding to hire a contractor that inspected more than 600 miles of roadway and rated pavement conditions, Flanigan said, according to Community Impact.

Rather than automatically repairing the worst road first, staff prioritizes cost-effective maintenance, Flanigan said. Treating roads before they deteriorate further extends their lifespan and helps avoid pricier repairs later.

Flanigan said the city plans another assessment of its roads in 2028.

Staff also group projects, such as coordinating road replacement with water-line replacement, to reduce construction disruptions, Director of Community Services Steve Massey said.

McDermott Drive got an asphalt overlay in summer 2025, and Bethany Drive is next in line, according to Community Impact.

For Schulmeister, keeping up with repairs also helps protect funding for other community services.

"This forward-thinking approach results in less friction with other priorities and allows consistent funding for all the services Allen residents enjoy: parks, trails, public safety, library services, and more," he said.

Where can I learn more?

Allen isn't the only community weighing how to pay for infrastructure repairs and upgrades.

• Amherst, Massachusetts, is investing nearly $4 million in roads to address a repair backlog.

• Texas has unveiled a $138 billion transportation plan that includes an overhaul of Montana Avenue.

• In Avon Lake, Ohio, residents question spending as leaders seek a road repair tax hike.

• Near Houston, drivers face years of overlapping construction during the $186 million FM 518 widening.

• Conroe, Texas, faces $210 million in drainage needs as the city council delays a proposed monthly fee.

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