Erik, maybe you should talk to your landlord. It has long been city policy that any local resident street improvements must be paid for by the property owners on that street.
You should have been aware before you moved to the "burbs" that they dont have sidewalks! Very few developers (since the 50's or 60's) include them because they are too cheap and it doesnt help sell houses anyway as most figure that most burbanites never walk as they drive everywhere. And they claim that the burbs are so good for children??
Personally, I would NEVER live in a neighborhood without sidewalks because I walk my dogs on them 2 or 3 miles everyday.
So save it for your landlord or MOVE!

On the other hand streetcars must be a city wide financial effort with federal help. And with gas going through the roof, we needed them yesterday!