st. pete will use $2.7 million of its 2026 budget for citywide sidewalk improvements | city of st. pete

Have you noticed how some sidewalks in St. Pete abruptly end while others are missing altogether? The City of St. Petersburg is looking to change that.

St. Pete is developing a Sidewalk Master Plan to evaluate the city’s existing sidewalk and curb ramp network within the public right-of-way.

The process will involve identifying gaps through a GIS-based inventory system and improving accessibility for residents with disabilities.

“For years, we’ve been building sidewalks on the sides of arterial roads, and that’s essentially complete,” Evan Mory, the city’s Transportation and Parking Management Director, said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “If there are gaps in those areas, it’s usually due to right-of-way issues or other factors that don’t make it feasible.”

The city is now shifting its focus toward expanding sidewalk connectivity in other parts of St. Pete and enhancing overall mobility.

Mory noted that the Sidewalk Master Plan is separate from initiatives such as the Complete Streets Implementation Plan, which prioritizes trails, bike lanes, and other micro-mobility improvements.

In 2025, St. Pete recorded four pedestrian fatalities and three bicycle fatalities.

Across Pinellas County, 451 pedestrian-related crashes were reported, ranking it among the most dangerous counties in Florida for pedestrians.

“One basic amenity that’s not always provided is filling in those sidewalk gaps and making it accessible for those with mobility challenges,” Mory said, speaking both as a city official and as a resident who regularly walks and bikes throughout St. Pete.

He also pointed to the need for updated curb ramps. “Some are 30 years old and don’t meet city standards anymore,” Mory said.

st. pete will host hybrid public meetings to gather more resident feedback about walkability and infastructure | city of st. pete

Since the study was announced, residents have shared hundreds of comments and recommendations on social media.

Commenters are divided on the city’s sidewalk efforts, with many calling for improved pedestrian and cyclist safety through better lighting, ADA-compliant curb ramps, protected bike lanes, traffic calming and clearer signage, while others argue that bike lanes and lane reductions create congestion or new hazards.

Several residents also questioned the city’s priorities and spending, urging stronger law enforcement, road maintenance, stormwater upgrades and more data-driven infrastructure planning before advancing initiatives like the city’s proposed Sidewalk Master Plan.

Sidewalk projects will be funded through the city’s approved 2026 budget, which allocates $2.7 million for sidewalks within a $202 million Capital Improvement Program.

The money will primarily come from multimodal impact fees, collected on new development to support transportation infrastructure, and Penny for Pinellas, the countywide one-cent sales tax that helps fund long-term infrastructure improvements.

City officials are encouraging residents to provide feedback at two public meetings planned for March or April. Dates and times are expected to be announced soon.

The Sidewalk Master Plan is anticipated to be completed in 2028.

Officials describe it as a flexible, living document that will incorporate public input and evolve over time to address changing needs, opportunities, and state and federal guidelines.

Be sure to visit the City’s Sidewalk Master Plan page for the latest updates.