A victim of its own success

The city's 50-50 program to repair sidewalks -- where residents pick up half the cost -- is so popular that it uses up all its money within six months.
Bill Roberton, director of the Bureau of Street Services, told the City Council panel reviewing the proposed $6.8 billion city budget, said he has a waiting list of more than 500 residents who want to participate in the program which is projected to pave 13 miles of sidewalks this coming year.
"The reality is we close the program off in December of each year because we don't have the money," Robertson said.
The city's aging street and sidewalk system has long been a source of despair among city officials and the public and the department now has a 50-year backlog of street repairs. Robertson said he would need $1.5 billion over 10 years to restore the street system.