Climate & Infrastructure Committee Regular Meeting – June 12, 2025
Sidewalk Snow and Ice Pilots: 2024-2025 update (2025-00632)
Receiving and filing an end of season update regarding the 2024-2025 Sidewalk Snow and Ice Pilots led by Public Works. Action Taken: Received and filed
Download: Sidewalk Snow and Ice Pilots 2025 Update Presentation
Background Analysis (Via City of Minneapolis)
History
Minneapolis is committed to year-round safe and reliable pedestrian access and the clearing of snow and ice from sidewalks is critical to achieving this. In recent years, the City has been exploring alternative ways to accomplish sidewalk snow clearing and improve data tracking. The 2018 Pedestrian and Bicycle Winter Maintenance Study and subsequent 2024 update provide an analysis of the current level of effectiveness of City policies and practices around sidewalk clearing and details potential improvements. To supplement data collection, Public Works has conducted proactive inspections of sidewalk clearing since 2019 to collect data on the level of compliance citywide and increase sidewalk clearing compliance. In 2023, Public Works developed a high-level analysis for sidewalk snow clearing pilot programs and implemented four snow clearing pilot programs in 2024.
Accomplished in 2024 – 2025 Winter Season
This is an update of Public Works implementation of the sidewalk snow and ice clearing pilots during the 2024-2025 winter season and a chance to highlight the accomplishments as well as give an overview of suggested improvements to the pilot programs.
Pilots implemented include:
- Senior Snow Clearing Pilot
- Snow Ambassador Pilot
- Mobile Team Pilot
- Snow Case Worker
These pilots accomplish goals related to the City’s Winter Walking and Biking Study as well as the City’s Transportation Action Plan. Over the course of the first pilot season more than 17 miles of sidewalk were cleared or treated by the pilots resulting in safer and more accessible pedestrian conditions for the people of Minneapolis. City forces monitored 33 miles of Pedestrian Priority Network resulting in 534 site clearings along high pedestrian traffic corridors. The Senior Snow Clearing Pilot and Mobile Team Pilot were able to provide a vital resource for residents in Minneapolis who have difficulty clearing their public sidewalk due to aging or a disability and are physically unable to meet the sidewalk clearing requirements of Minneapolis Code of Ordinance, Title 17, Chapter 445.
