City manager earmarks $2M in DART GMP funds for 'Sidewalks to the Future' program

At the budget retreat, City Manager Chris Hillman proposed a ‘Sidewalks to the Future’ kickoff funded primarily with DART GMP dollars: $2,000,000 for sidewalks complemented by an additional $1,000,000 from GMP-derived street dollars. "We're gonna be setting aside $2,000,000 for our sidewalks to the future program," Hillman said, adding that the funds must be used near transit stops and will be targeted to older school areas and ADA upgrades.

Council members pressed staff on whether the city would continue past private-sidewalk grant programs and how the new program would interact with resident-requested repairs. Hillman clarified the city cannot use public funds for private sidewalks in gated communities, but staff will continue the hazardous-sidewalk remediation and a 50/50 cost-sharing option for certain drive approaches. The council asked for a clearer list of geographic priorities and a plan for resident outreach; staff said they will return with details as the program is scoped.

If approved, the administration said the first tranche of projects would target the oldest elementary-school corridors and priority ADA ramps near transit stops.