As part of its Capital Improvement Program (CIP), the City of Charlotte sets aside $4 Million for the construction of new sidewalks. Generally, 50% is spent on thoroughfares (major city streets) and 50% on local and collector streets, most of which are in neighborhoods.

The selection of approved projects is based on a priority listing which considers a number of factors including:

• Street classification (major or minor thoroughfare, collector, or a local street)
• Annual Average Weekday Traffic Volume (AAWT)
• Connectivity (Connection to an existing sidewalk or sidewalk network)
• Proximity to a school/library
• Proximity to a park
• Proximity to a hospital 
• Transit (Accessibility to Transit) 
• Visible Worn Paths 
• Distance 
• Curb & Gutter 
• Drainage Needs 
• ROW Obstructions
• Autos Per Household 
• City Within A City (Roughly Inside Route 4)

Sidewalk construction is extremely expensive; not only must the concrete be installed, but drainage must also be considered, and in some instances right-of-way must be purchased. Once a year, the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) takes approximately $2 million worth of projects from the top of the ranking lists and sends them to Engineering & Property Management (E&PM) for planning and design. Once the projects enter the planning and design phase, depending upon the complexity of the project, it could take up to two or more years to complete. About 12 miles per year can be done with this allocation. Currently, over 700 projects representing 332 miles are on the priority list.

Citizens interested in learning more about the Sidewalk Program and requirements can contact CDOT at 704-336-3893. The Sidewalk Program and requirements can also be found at CDOT's web site: 

Charlotte's Sidewalk Program