Pittsburgh officials are planning to use about $4.7 million to pave 120 more city streets this year, under legislation that cleared council’s standing committee Wednesday.

The transfers are possible because the city is using $19 million of its $335 million federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to improve its recreation centers.

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Some of those improvements had already been budgeted, but since council approved the ARPA allocation it “freed up” the $4.7 million that is being shifted to the paving projects, Kevin Pawlos, director of the city’s Office of Management and Budget, told council.

The transfer gave pause to Councilwoman Deb Gross, who said she was against it because of uncertainties that the federal money can be used for recreation projects.

“I’m going to call this ‘bonus paving’,” Gross said.

She was against the transfer because if it is later determined the rec center projects can’t be funded using the federal cash, they won’t be funded.

“I don’t think this is what the ARPA funds are for,” Gross said.

No other council members opposed the transfer, which will be considered for approval next week.

Pawlos said it was being sought to fill an “imminent need” by paving more streets.

Making the transfer doesn’t hurt the recreation budget, Pawlos said. He said its funding is current and the future improvements to the rec centers are fully funded through the plan council approved for its $335 million in ARPA money.

The recreation projects were initially going to be funded using $4.7 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding from 2020 and 2021. If council approves the transfer, it will now be used for paving this year, Pawlos said.

For a list of the 120 streets to be added to the paving list, click here.

The paving projects are in addition to the 34 miles of streets the city is paving this year at a cost of $16 million.

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