Today, the City of St. Louis released its CityStat performance data for the third quarter of 2026 (July 1, 2026 – September 30, 2026). The CityStat platform launched earlier this year and strives to modernize how the City measures performance, identifies problems, and delivers results for residents. The latest quarterly update highlights significant achievements in clearing long-standing service backlogs for towing and tree removal. The Towing Division brought the abandoned vehicle backlog down to 538 requests at the end of Q3 2026. This is the lowest point in recent years and a dramatic decrease from its peak of 1,411 requests in Q3 2025.Additionally, through a focused 30-day “blitz” in July and August, the Forestry Division removed over 250 hazard trees in Q3. The hazard tree removal backlog has now decreased by nearly 70% from its peak of 989 trees in Q3 2025 down to 302 trees.”Public trust is built on transparency and accountability,” said Mayor Cara Spencer. “CityStat isn’t just about highlighting our successes, it’s about being honest with our residents when we fall short. By sharing performance data openly, we welcome the public to see how we analyze service challenges, adjust our operational strategies, and work continuously to deliver better results for every neighborhood in St. Louis.”While data this quarter does highlight major wins, CityStat also identified several challenges, particularly in pothole repairs and refuse route completion.Pothole repair response times on major streets slowed significantly in Q3, with only 13% of requests completed within the 3-day goal timeframe. This decline resulted from an intentional operational pivot toward major summer paving projects across arterial streets. To address accumulating requests, the Street Division conducted a Saturday “pothole blitz” on September 12, filling more than 120 potholes in a single weekend.Refuse collection route coverage averaged 87% in Q3, falling below the City’s 95% target. The Refuse Division faced equipment maintenance issues compounded by extreme summer heat and increased seasonal route demands for yard waste pickup. Capital improvement planning is underway with the Equipment Services Division to modernize the fleet and stabilize route completion.The City encourages residents to review additional Q3 data on the CityStat website. Going forward, data will continue to be posted at the end of the month following the end of each quarter to allow City teams necessary time for data validation. 

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