The city of Charlotte said Thursday that the stretch of West Tyvola Road where two young boys were struck and killed by a delivery-truck driver Wednesday morning was the second-highest ranked sidewalk project among 202 proposals before the accident.

But it's unclear when that sidewalk project - and dozens of others - will move forward.

The family of the two boys who were killed wants the city to move now.

"We need sidewalks, speed bumps, just like any other area," said Drena Pendergrass, the mother of 1-year-old Jeremy Brewton and 5-year old Kadrien Pendergrass.

The city said Thursday it doesn't have any more money for sidewalks, which are usually funded from the sale of bonds.

"Should there be a bond referendum, this one would likely move ahead," said Danny Pleasant, director of the Charlotte Department of Transportation.

The city historically asks voters to approve bonds for roads, sidewalks and neighborhood improvements every two years, with the last referendum in 2010. Whether there will be a November 2012 vote will depend on whether City Council decides this spring to get more money - likely through a property tax increase.

Wednesday's tragedy highlights a problem for Charlotte, which was mostly built in the age of the automobile, and when developers weren't required to build sidewalks.

In the last several years, Charlotte has undertaken a significant - and sometimes controversial - sidewalk building program to achieve its goal of becoming more walkable. Sometimes the sidewalks are welcome. In other instances, when the city must cut into people's yards or tear down trees, there is opposition.

In the 1990s, the city spent about $1 million a year retrofitting existing streets with sidewalks, Pleasant said. That's now up to between $5 million and $7.5 million a year, he said, with that money coming from previous bonds.

Despite the increase in money, the city has a long way to go.

The city said there are 479 miles of thoroughfares - large roads - like West Tyvola Road without sidewalks, and 1,635 miles of local roads without them either.

The city plans to build 375 miles of sidewalks by 2035 if funding allows. Charlotte usually builds about 12 miles of sidewalks a year.

Wednesday started smoothly

Jeremy Brewton, the boys' father, said Wednesday morning began smoothly. He didn't have any hassles getting his children dressed or finding toys or things they needed for day care.

He was pushing the stroller with his infant daughter. His 5-year-old, Kadrien, was pushing a stroller with the 1-year-old son, making conversation.

Kadrien wanted to know if they could stop at a nearby Family Dollar on the way to school, or possibly on the way home. He asked if he could play games on the computer after school if he was good.

The family got to the end of Shady Lane and was walking in the gravel beside the roadway, turning right onto West Tyvola Road, when the collision happened.

Brewton said the truck hit him first, knocking him to the ground. He believes the children were killed because they were smaller and came in contact with the wheel. "I'm holding my 1-year-old. He's not breathing," Brewton said. "How am I supposed to tell the mother of my kids that they're dead? At that point, I'm still not understanding. The only thing I want is for them to be breathing."

The driver, Dirk Jerome Brown, 32, couldn't be reached for comment. He has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

The city said Wednesday that that stretch of West Tyvola Road had seen two pedestrian accidents since Charlotte began keeping records in 1997.

Josh Beatty, who doesn't have a car and walks to a bus stop on West Boulevard, said west Charlotte needs more sidewalks.

"We've still got to walk up and down these roads. It's really aggravating that our government ain't doing nothing," Beatty said. "If we had money, I guarantee you it would look like East Boulevard out here."

A recent city-sponsored traffic-calming project improved East Boulevard through Dilworth, by adding areas in the medians for trees and other vegetation.

Ranking sidewalk projects

Pleasant said the city has sidewalk projects throughout Charlotte, and that no one area is favored over another. He said projects are ranked on a number of criteria, including vehicle traffic counts; connectivity to other sidewalks; proximity to a school or park; and evidence of a worn path, among others.

The top priority for a sidewalk on major streets or roads is East Sugar Creek Road between Eastway Drive and Anderson Street. West Tyvola Road between West Boulevard and Old Steele Creek Road is next.

"The needs are everywhere," Pleasant said.

The city currently has 37 sidewalk projects that have been paid for and are in various stages of development, ranging from design to construction.

But after those projects are finished, the city has no way to build additional sidewalks unless it shifts money from other areas or raises taxes.

The City Council will begin budget discussions next week for fiscal year 2013, and it's possible a property tax increase could be proposed, which would allow for a referendum in November.

Democrat Michael Barnes said Thursday that the West Tyvola accident will be "part of a larger conversation about improving pedestrian connectivity" - and how the city could pay for that.

Democratic Mayor Anthony Foxx, in a statement, called the accident heartbreaking.

He also said the tragedy "is a reminder of why, despite withering criticism, the City Council tripled our investment in the sidewalk program in 2006. We will examine that program carefully this year as well."

Ed Toney is a Republican who ran unsuccessfully in November for City Council District 3, which covers west Charlotte. During his campaign, one of Toney's major themes was how a lack of sidewalks was endangering people, especially children walking to school.

"There are people walking down the shoulder of the road because there are no sidewalks," said Toney, who said the city should dedicate more money to neighborhoods rather than uptown.

Contact Steve Harrison: 704-358-5160