Fort Worth Approves New Pavement Management Fee to Fund Street Repairs

The Fort Worth City Council recently approved a new pavement management fee, designed to fund annual street repairs and mitigate the need for more expensive future reconstruction projects. This fee, which received unanimous council approval, will be implemented in 2028 and is projected to generate approximately $27.4 million each year for a dedicated pavement management fund.

Residential users will be charged $3 per month, with the fee appearing on water bills. Other property types, including multifamily residences, hotels, and commercial properties, will have charges based on dwelling units, room count, or square footage, respectively. The city estimates an annual street maintenance funding gap of $66 million, with this new fee expected to cover 40% of that deficit. Council member Michael Crain introduced amendments requiring semiannual public reporting and a 12-month implementation review to ensure transparency and proper use of funds. This initiative is crucial as construction costs have increased by about 73% in recent years, impacting the maintenance of the city's 8,600 lane miles of streets.