NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 13, 2018

The City is pouring concrete for the first round of GO KC Sidewalk repairs, making good on the promise to add or enhance sidewalks throughout Kansas City over the next 20 years.

On Friday, Mayor Sly James, City Manager Troy Schulte and Councilmembers Quinton Lucas and Scott Wagner gathered on the city’s east side with other city leaders at 33rd and Michigan Avenue to celebrate the kickoff of sidewalk repair citywide.

In April 2017, Kansas City voters approved $800 million in bonds to fund a capital improvements program for streets, sidewalks, flood control and other infrastructure needs over the next 20 years. About $150 million was dedicated to sidewalks, which long has been a source of frustration for homeowners who had to foot the bill for many of these repairs.

The bonds create the revenue needed to allow the City to pay for residential sidewalk repairs. This program will systematically evaluate, repair and replace sidewalks. The goal is to make it through two citywide cycles over 20 years.

These systematic sidewalk inspections began in concert with construction of a shovel-ready backlog of spot repairs reported through 311. About $6 million will be spent initially to reduce this backlog. An additional $1.5 million will be used to increase accessibility along sidewalks with ADA curb ramp upgrades.

The City Council in December approved two contracts for the first round of backlog spot repairs. Two more contracts with additional 311 backlog sidewalk repairs will go before council for approval this spring.

Updates on sidewalk repair are posted on the City’s website. An even more complete look at bond-related projects can be found at the GO KC website.

For more information, please contact Beth Breitenstein, Public Works Public Information Officer at 816-513-2612.