Fix Atlanta’s Sidewalks

The City of Atlanta makes sidewalk maintenance the responsibility of adjacent property owners. The policy is unfair to property owners and unpopular with voters. So it’s no surprise that government officials lack the political will to enforce it. As a result, broken sidewalks rarely get repaired and pedestrians encounter tripping hazards and obstacles throughout Atlanta. The Public Works Department estimates that 25 percent of the City’s sidewalks need to be repaired or replaced, at a cost of some $80 million.   Learn more about this issue.

Public Works officials agree with PEDS that the sidewalk ordinance should be amended.  The problem is money.  The City currently lacks the funding to fix the sidewalks.  One possible funding source is a a bond referendum. By allocating $40 million toward sidewalk maintenance, the city could address at least half of the backlog within five years. The City Council needs to get on board by authorizing a bond referendum that gives voters an opportunity to fund sidewalk maintenance. Another option would be to raise the sidewalk closure fee charged to developers from a measly $20/month to $1000/month.

Online petition: We received over 1,000 signatures and have closed the petition.  Thank you!

TAKE ACTION: Please contact your Atlanta City Council representatives today and remind them that sidewalks are a public asset which should be maintained with public funds.  Urge them to find the funding necessary to fix Atlanta’s sidewalks.

Ceasear Mitchell, The President of Council
Carla Smith, District 1
Kwanza Hall, District 2
Ivory Lee Young, District 3
Cleta Winslow, District  4
Natalyn M. Archibong, District 5
Alex Wan, District 6
Howard Shook, District 7
Yolanda Adrean, District 8
Felicia Moore, District 9
C.T. Martin, District 10
Keisha Bottoms, District 11
Joyce Sheperd, District 12
Michael Julian Bond, Post 1 at large
Aaron Watson, Post 2 at large
H. Lamar Willis, Post 3 at large