Residents told the Worcester City Council that sidewalks across the city are in poor condition and urged faster action; city staff said a contractor has been awarded and work on downtown sidewalks is scheduled to start Nov. 3.

Multiple public speakers raised sidewalks as a safety issue. Gary Hunter urged the council to make a construction progress report public, saying "the city sidewalks are in an awful condition all over the city" and that "it's safer besides the cars to walk in the street than trying to walk up the sidewalks." Fianna Jatansingh described a two‑year delay on a promised sidewalk on Sunderland Road near a school, noting construction on the school side was complete while the opposite sidewalk was not installed. "Who’s gonna hold the public works department accountable when they promise that we are gonna have a sidewalk and then nothing is done?" she asked.

Councilors and staff acknowledged the concerns. At the meeting a staff member identified as Mr. Henry told the council the body had funded downtown sidewalk construction in the capital budget and that a contractor has been awarded; construction was stated to begin November 3. The statement followed discussion of the street and sidewalk construction progress report for September 2025, which the council voted to send to the public works committee and to file.

Other speakers urged prioritizing sidewalks near City Hall and high‑pedestrian areas for tourist safety and accessibility. Idella Hazid told councilors "tourists, when they come, they're gonna come to the center of the town ... this is where it needs to be done." Councilors also directed multiple requests to the manager and public works to review sidewalk configurations and parking at specific locations (for example, 330 Southbridge Street), and to provide reports on construction progress and pedestrian safety measures.

The council referred several sidewalk and street repair items to the public works committee or to the manager and requested follow-up reports. The transcript indicates a mix of immediate concerns (needed repairs and accessibility issues) and longer‑term projects (capital‑funded downtown sidewalks scheduled to begin in November). No final appropriation or construction authorization was voted on the floor at the meeting beyond the previously adopted capital budget.