“The DDA project was approved by Ann Arbor City Council in summer 2008, and received nearly $1 million from a Transportation Enhancement grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation Local Agency Program.”

and it looks like this goes with City Council 08-0944 [link]

“The DDA has established a project budget of $7.1 million for Phase I; less funds from the state, the DDA commitment is approximately $6.1 million.”

Of course this isn’t all sidewalks, but some of it is:

“- Install sidewalk improvements along Fifth between Ann and William Streets and along Division between Liberty and Huron Streets to support private and public sector reinvestment currently taking place in these areas.”

The other number that would add to this discussion is some estimate of the annual maintenance cost of a unit of sidewalk. That has to vary wildly with some squares lasting since the 1920s and others flaking out or breaking up in less than a decade.

If you looked at on street meter parking revenue at about 1500 per space per year, what percent of that gross revenue would need to be spent to keep the associated sidewalk in good condition? If one meter were about 10 squares, and if one square were 150$ to replace, and if a square lasted 20 years, we are at 5%.