Pearland is pockmarked with gaps in its sidewalk system. To date, the city oversees 476.1 miles of sidewalk.
But not every main thoroughfare or pocket of development is accessible to pedestrians. To make the city more mobile and friendly to those on foot or bike, Pearland would have to invest $300,000 every year for the next 20 years, according to city documents. Additionally, the public works department has a 15 year backlog of sidewalks to replace, Pearland Public Works Director Eric Wilson said.
“The solution is money. That’s it, and it’s prioritization from council,” Wilson said.
In the 2016-17 fiscal year, the city budgeted $728,000 for sidewalk replacements. No money was budgeted for sidewalk gaps.
