Strategy 4 Improve winter walking and rolling.
The actions within this strategy are divided into two categories:
Action we will DOActions we will SUPPORTAction we will do are followed by “DO” and are colored in dark gray, and actions we will support are followed by “SUPPORT” and are colored in light gray.
Learn more about how we get thereMaintaining winter access for people walking in the city is critically important. Minneapolis experiences an average of 54” of snow per year1, in addition to freeze and thaw cycles, and the system in place to ensure the sidewalks are kept clear and passable involves many people and institutions throughout the city. Currently, City ordinance requires property owners of duplexes and single-family homes to clear the public sidewalk abutting their property within 24 hours of snow ending, and all other property owners to clear their sidwalks within four daylight hours of the snow ending. Clearing corners to the gutter line are the responsibility of the corner lot property owner. There is a City-led corner clearing program that works to clear corners after large storms, post-plowing of the streets, until all corners are cleared citywide. Moving forward and in alignment with Walking Strategy 1, the City-led corner clearing program will move to align with the Pedestrian Priority Network.
The 2018 Minneapolis Pedestrian and Bicycling Winter Maintenance Study provides options to enhance the quality and consistency of clearing snow and ice from sidewalks and bikeways; many of those ideas are reflected in this strategy's actions.
Actions to improve winter walking and rolling.
Walking 4.1
Expand education and awareness efforts for residents and businesses on City’s sidewalk snow and ice removal ordinance, related standards and responsibilities.
Supported goals:
Safety Equity Mobility Active Partnerships
Related actions:
Difficulty:
Low
Timeframe:
2020-2023 (Years 0-3)
Walking 4.2
Collaborate with the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department to build and share a list of community resources for clearing sidewalks to help clear snow for those who are unable.
Supported goals:
Safety Equity Mobility Active Partnerships
Related actions:
Difficulty:
Low
Timeframe:
2020-2023 (Years 0-3)
Walking 4.3
Work in partnership with Metro Transit to develop enhanced winter maintenance standards and enforcement for transit stops and stations.
Supported goals:
Safety Mobility Active Partnerships
Related actions:
Transit 6.1, Transit 6.2, Transit 6.3, Transit 6.4, Transit 6.5, Transit 6.6, Transit 6.7, Transit 6.8, Transit 6.9
Difficulty:
Medium
Timeframe:
2020-2023 (Years 0-3)
Walking 4.4
Change 311 and related property reports language to more accurately communicate when issues are resolved in the computer system vs. on the street as snow and ice complaints are received and processed.
Supported goals:
Mobility
Related actions:
Difficulty:
Low
Timeframe:
2020-2023 (Years 0-3)
Walking 4.5
Consider further streamlining inspection process by eliminating sending an Order to Correct and instead proceed with authorizing snow removal or ice mitigation.
Supported goals:
Mobility
Related actions:
Difficulty:
Low
Timeframe:
2020-2023 (Years 0-3)
Walking 4.6
Consider adding financial penalties to properties out of compliance with snow and ice clearing responsibilities, with an emphasis on properties with repeat issues.
Supported goals:
Equity Mobility
Related actions:
Difficulty:
Medium
Timeframe:
2020-2023 (Years 0-3)
Walking 4.7
Evaluate feasibility of changing City of Minneapolis Ordinance 445.20 for sidewalk clearing to require clearing the sidewalks earlier.
Supported goals:
Equity Mobility
Related actions:
Difficulty:
Medium
Timeframe:
2020-2023 (Years 0-3)
Walking 4.8
Continue to pilot, evaluate and implement processes that improve winter conditions for people walking; focus on equitable outcomes through coordination, sidewalk inspections, corner clearing and a willingness to test new solutions to improve snow and ice clearance.
Supported goals:
Safety Equity Mobility
Related actions:
Difficulty:
High
Timeframe:
2020-2023 (Years 0-3)
Walking 4.9
Evaluate corner clearing program and pedestrian pushbutton design guidance to improve approach to better clear snow and ice adjacent to pedestrian pushbuttons.
Supported goals:
Safety Equity Mobility
Related actions:
Design 1.1, Design 1.2, Design 1.3, Design 1.4, Design 1.5, Design 1.6, Design 1.7
Difficulty:
Medium
Timeframe:
2020-2023 (Years 0-3)
Status:
On-going
Walking 4.10
Conduct review of Pedestrian and Bicycle Winter Maintenance Study on a biennial basis to evaluate and suggest changes to City-led snow and ice clearing, including evaluating City-led clearing of snow and ice on the Pedestrian Priority Network.
Supported goals:
Safety Equity Mobility
Related actions:
Bicycles 6.11
Difficulty:
Medium
Timeframe:
2020-2023 (Years 0-3)
Status:
On-going
See also actions:
- Bicycling 6.9
Snow and ice removal on the All Ages and Abilities Network trails - Bicycling 6.10
Snow and ice removal on greenways - Street Operations 9.4
Snow and ice removal at construction sites