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St. Louis Streets Department reports ARPA‑funded 50/50 sidewalk program has replaced 234,000 sq ft of sidewalks
Summary
Program manager Zachary Fortune told the Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee the ARPA‑funded 50/50 sidewalk program has completed 842 service requests, replaced about 234,000 square feet of sidewalk and nearly 2,000 linear feet of curb and expects to finish remaining ARPA work by July.
St. Louis City’s 50/50 sidewalk program, managed by the Streets Department, has used American Rescue Plan Act funds to clear a backlog of sidewalk repair requests and advance contracts for additional work, officials told the Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee on March 19.
“We were allocated $6,150,000 to alleviate the backlog of the city sidewalk requests,” Zachary Fortune, program manager for the Streets Department, told the committee in his presentation. Fortune said ARPA funding supported five contract awards, purchase of one replacement concrete truck and the replacement of about 234,000 square feet of sidewalk and nearly 2,000 linear feet of curb. He said the ARPA work has addressed roughly 842 service requests and that contractors have completed work in 21 of the city’s 28 wards under the older 28‑ward model; the remaining ARPA work should be complete by July.
Why it matters: Sidewalk repairs affect pedestrian safety and accessibility. The committee’s update shows the program is progressing but remains tied to multi‑step procurement and bonding timelines that lengthen delivery schedules.
Contracts and procurement timeline
Fortune said the department split ARPA funds across wards at roughly $215,000 per ward under the 28‑ward allocation. He reported that some wards exceeded or fell short of that per‑ward figure because the department worked from existing scopes of work. For fiscal year 2025 work, the Streets Department has moved to new contracts; Fortune said four fiscal‑year contracts are in procurement, with notices to proceed expected in weeks to months depending on Board of Public Service review, bonding and MBE/WBE processes. He cautioned the solicitation and BPS approval process adds about five weeks for solicitation plus roughly three months for BPS processing before work can begin.
Ward capital and transition to 14‑ward model
Fortune and other staff described the transition from a 28‑ward to a 14‑ward model for distributing ward capital and asked aldermen to provide ward capital selections in May so contracts can be programmed in a timely way. Fortune said he will again submit a list before the ward capital meetings and begin contracting in September once funding is allocated.
Ending
Committee members thanked Fortune for responsiveness to constituent inquiries and asked staff to continue updating aldermen as awards proceed. Streets Department staff said they will continue to present contract timelines and provide ward lists before the May ward capital meetings.
