Do you think Dallas has an infrastructure problem?
It’s likely much worse than you know!
The City of Dallas has identified a $17 billion deferred maintenance backlog for its infrastructure, a figure cited by city officials as of early 2024. However, a detailed, itemized breakdown of this exact $17 billion figure is not comprehensively available in a single public document as of February 20, 2025. Below, I’ve compiled an informed overview based on available data, including specific categories and estimates where possible, drawn from various city reports, news articles, and council discussions up to this point. Note that these figures evolve as assessments are updated, and some specifics remain generalized due to the lack of a fully itemized public list tied directly to the $17 billion
Overview of the $17 Billion Deferred Maintenance
The $17 billion represents the estimated cost to address overdue repairs and upgrades across Dallas’s infrastructure portfolio, accumulated over decades due to underfunding and prioritization of new projects over maintenance. This figure was referenced by the city manager’s office in 2024 amid discussions about a $1.25 billion bond package approved in May 2024, which only addresses a fraction of the total need. The backlog spans multiple departments and asset types, with some categories having more detailed estimates than others.
Itemized Categories and Estimates
Here’s a breakdown of the major infrastructure categories contributing to the $17 billion, based on available data and reasonable extrapolation:
1. Streets and Transportation
- Estimated Need: ~$7 billion
- Details: This covers pavement repairs, resurfacing, and reconstruction of Dallas’s 11,000+ lane miles of streets. In 2023, city officials estimated transportation inventory needs at $10.5 billion, with $7 billion specifically for streets. This includes fixing potholes, upgrading aging traffic signals (e.g., a $17 million project in the 2024 bond), and replacing deteriorating bridges like the State Highway 356 bridge over the Elm Fork of the Trinity River ($25 million). The average pavement condition is projected to decline from “good” to “fair” by 2028 without significant investment beyond current plans.
2.Sidewalks
-Estimated Need: ~$2 billion
-Details: Part of the $10.5 billion transportation inventory, $2 billion is earmarked for repairing or replacing missing and broken sidewalks. Dallas has struggled with pedestrian infrastructure, with many areas lacking connectivity or accessibility, contributing to safety and mobility issues.
3.Stormwater and Flood Protection
-Estimated Need: ~$1.5–2 billion
-Details: In 2018, a council member noted a $1.5 billion backlog for stormwater mitigation alone, and this figure has likely grown with inflation and worsening flood risks. This includes drainage system upgrades, levee maintenance, and flood control projects. The 2024 bond allocates $75 million for flood protection, indicating the scale of ongoing needs.
4.Parks and Recreation Facilities
-Estimated Need: ~$1–1.5 billion
-Details**: Dallas’s 400+ parks and recreation centers face significant deferred maintenance, including playgrounds, trails, and buildings. A 2023 parks deficit was estimated at $801 million in a comparable city context (San Diego), and Dallas’s larger system likely scales higher. The 2024 bond includes $345 million for parks, but this addresses only a portion of the total need.
5. Public Buildings (City Hall, Libraries, Cultural Facilities)
- Estimated Need: ~$1–2 billion
- Details: City Hall alone has $70 million in deferred maintenance ($28 million interior, $42 million structural/parking garage), as noted in 2024 bond talks. Other facilities like libraries, fire stations, and cultural venues (e.g., Kalita Humphreys Theater) add to this. Extrapolating from San Diego’s $1 billion facility backlog for 1,600 buildings, Dallas’s 1,000+ facilities could easily exceed $1 billion.
6. Water and Wastewater Systems
- Estimated Need: $2–3 billion
- Details: Aging pipes and treatment facilities require replacement or upgrades. The 2024 budget raised water/wastewater fees to fund $141 million in mains over five years, but the total need is much larger, especially with connections to Lake Palestine (100 miles away) driving costs. Historical underinvestment suggests a multi-billion-dollar gap.
7. Traffic Signals and Streetlights
- Estimated Need: ~$500 million–$1 billion
- Details: Over half of Dallas’s traffic signals predate 1980 (beyond their 25-year lifespan), with a $17 million bond project in 2024 addressing only a fraction. Streetlights also require modernization, with costs likely in the hundreds of millions based on scale and age.
Remaining Balance and Context
- Unspecified or Miscellaneous: $1–2 billion
- This could include smaller categories like IT infrastructure ($5 million in the 2024 bond), public safety facilities ($90 million in the bond), or unassessed assets. Inflation, new assessments, and scope creep since earlier estimates (e.g., $10.5 billion in 2019) explain the jump to $17 billion.
Why No Full Itemization?
- The $17 billion figure is an aggregate estimate from the city manager’s office, not tied to a single, publicly detailed list as of now. City briefings (e.g., 2019’s $10 billion estimate) provide broad categories, while the 2024 bond process revealed updated needs (e.g., $24 billion total cited in some discussions, later refined to $17 billion for deferred maintenance specifically). Detailed inventories exist within departments (e.g., Public Works, Parks), but these are not consolidated into a public $17 billion breakdown.
Conclusion
deferred maintenance in Dallas spans streets ($7 billion), sidewalks ($2 billion), stormwater ($1.5–2 billion), parks ($1–1.5 billion), public buildings ($1–2 billion), water systems ($2–3 billion), and traffic signals/streetlights ($0.5–1 billion), with some residual costs unitemized. For a definitive itemized list, you’d need to request internal city reports or await a future comprehensive audit, as current public data provides only partial granularity. This backlog reflects decades of deferred investment, with the city councils priority surely not focused on infrastructure.,
