Pittsburgh pilot program will repair damaged, heavily used sidewalks at lower cost
A pilot program approved Tuesday by Pittsburgh City Council will have city crews repair damaged and heavily used sidewalks for residents at a lower cost.
Under city law, landowners are responsible for sidewalk maintenance on their properties.
The one-year pilot program, introduced in July, will prioritize sidewalks that are heavily used, especially those along school routes, and will focus on areas with a high percentage of sidewalks in poor condition, according to Emily Bourne of the city’s departments of public works and mobility and infrastructure.
Under the proposal, the Department of Public Works will perform sidewalk and curb repair work at lower costs than private companies.
“Having city staff complete the work dramatically reduces the overall cost of the project, resulting in substantial cost savings to our residents,” Bourne said in July.
She said the program also will offer financial assistance for eligible property owners based on their income and long-term structured payment plans.
Bourne said the ultimate goal of the program is to boost pedestrian safety across the city and to scale up the program after the pilot ends.
Officials have not provided details about what the cost to residents would be.
Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.
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