This is the final part in a special feature. Click here for Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
By Laura Hunt Miller
We’ve walked through why we need sidewalks and how we can integrate more, but none of that happens without the big question every city faces: how to pay for it.
Filling a 10-foot by 5-foot sidewalk gap with concrete costs around $500. There are other material alternatives, but however you go about it, the costs add up across a city-wide network.
Small towns have found ways to fund sidewalk networks without breaking their budgets though:
- Pair Sidewalks with Road Work
The most cost-effective approach is one we discussed earlier: whenever street work is done, sidewalks go with it. Building sidewalks as part of routine road maintenance keeps costs down and ensures steady progress. Ruston is already doing this, so check!
- Tap Federal and State Grants
Programs like Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A), Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE), and Louisiana’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) provide funding for pedestrian and bike projects.
Ruston’s 2026 proposed Capital Budget includes $33 million for road and transportation improvements, almost half of which is covered by federal funds via grants. Good job Ruston! Let’s see if we can do even better than that.
- Explore Local Mechanisms
Many communities create dedicated sidewalk funds through modest impact fees on new development, bond programs, or sales tax allocations. For example, Van Buren, Arkansas established a Sidewalk Construction and Maintenance Fund by setting aside $0.03 per square foot of all building permit fees. This continual revenue stream supports both new sidewalks and upkeep based on the total square footage permitted each year.
- Build Partnerships
Some universities, health foundations, and civic groups co-fund and offer grants for sidewalk projects. Local businesses can also adopt sidewalk corridors, or implement things like Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to help fund projects as well.
Pedestrian networks may look like modest infrastructure, but they signal something profound: a community that values accessibility, health, and shared public life. In short, a resilient and inviting place to live.
Let’s create the kind of community we want for our children: one where sidewalks don’t just end, but where something better begins.
