Waco Funds $1M Jackson Avenue Sidewalk Upgrade
Downtown businesses along Jackson Avenue gain funded walkability improvements, though construction timing has not yet been set.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Waco has approved nearly $1 million for new sidewalks and improved lighting along Jackson Avenue in downtown, funded through TIF funds. The project has no set construction start date and must still go through design and bidding, so downtown property owners and businesses along the corridor should not expect work imminently.
Why it matters
Residents report rough sidewalk conditions from rocks and debris and a need for better lighting near the railroad tracks, while local businesses have asked for improvements that make it easier to walk around downtown. The city is also considering ways to help keep small businesses downtown and maintain a local presence as the area grows.
The city approved nearly $1 million for the Jackson Avenue sidewalk and lighting work, funded through TIF revenue drawn from increased property tax collections by the city, Waco-McLennan County, and McLennan Community College. A resident cited in the reporting has walked the corridor for eight months, reflecting the duration of the sidewalk concerns.
The players
City of Waco
Municipal government of Waco, Texas, which approved the Jackson Avenue funding and manages the TIF district that finances downtown capital projects.
McLennan Community College
Public two-year college in the Waco area that contributes a share of increased property tax revenue to the TIF funds used for downtown projects.
The details
The project is financed through tax increment financing, which captures portions of the added property tax revenue generated in the district and directs it to improvements there. Because the funds come from increased tax collections contributed by the city, county, and McLennan Community College, the investment reflects growth already occurring downtown. Before any concrete is poured, the project must move through design and then competitive bidding, which determines both timing and final scope.
Timeline
Approval of nearly $1 million for Jackson Avenue improvements has been granted, with no construction start date yet set.
Design and bidding must be completed before construction can begin.
Market Landscape
Waco's use of tax increment financing follows the Texas Tax Code Chapter 311 model, in which taxing entities pledge growth in property values to fund improvements within a designated zone. Placing a sidewalk and lighting project inside that structure ties the corridor's near-term upgrades to the broader downtown investment cycle the city is tracking.
Downtown property owners and businesses along Jackson Avenue should plan around a construction timeline that remains open, since design and bidding must finish first. Operators who rely on foot traffic should track the bid schedule and consider how temporary disruption or future improved walkability could affect customer access.
The takeaway
Downtown operators should treat the Jackson Avenue project as a pending capital improvement and monitor for the design and bid announcements that will set its schedule. Businesses that depend on pedestrian traffic can use this window to assess how sidewalk and lighting upgrades might shape their customer access once work begins.
Further reading
For more on how local funding flows into community projects, explore Philanthropy coverage on We are Main Street.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 25 News KXXV and KRHD.
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