The study

Minneapolis is committed to year-round walking and bicycling as safe, accessible and convenient options for its residents and visitors. In 2018 the City completed a Pedestrian and Bicycle Winter Maintenance Study. The goal of the study is to identify alternative winter maintenance options to enhance the quality and consistency of clearing snow and ice from sidewalks and bikeways, which would improve safety, accessibility and mobility for people that walk, bike, and take transit in Minneapolis.

The study presents information, data, and implementation cost considerations of pedestrian and bicycle winter maintenance practices such that the City can determine opportunities for continued improvement. This study provides a framework for continued conversation with the community, interested stakeholders and policy makers.

The study is divided into three primary sections, plus a appendix:

• Section 1: Existing Minneapolis Pedestrian and Bicycle Winter Maintenance Practices
• Section 2: City and Agency Review
• Section 3: Alternative Winter Maintenance Options
• Appendix A: Winter Facilities Trial Evaluation (WFET)

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Winter Maintenance Study is currently being reviewed and updated, per Walking Action 4.10 and Bicycling Action 6.11 in the Transportation Action Plan  More details will be posted to this website as they become available.

More information

• Minneapolis Pedestrian and Winter Maintenance Study

• Winter Maintenance Study Supplemental Report

• Pedestrian Priority Corridors  are used to define the City-led corner clearing locations. Corners prioritized for clearing include those along the Pedestrian Priority Corridors as identified by the green lines (which continue through the activity nodes, commercial nodes and central business district).

Staff direction

Directing Public Works staff to implement the options recommended for immediate action in the Pedestrian and Bicycle Winter Maintenance Study Supplemental Report on Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal, and return to the Transportation & Public Works Committee with the feasibility and cost estimates for snow removal from City sidewalks, including possible tiers of implementation, and consideration of business models that would further enhance the City’s goals for a walkable City in winter and taking into account the priority areas identified by the Pedestrian Advisory Committee.  Staff will return to the Transportation & Public Works Committee in Sept 2018 with feasibility and estimates, and in May 2019 to report on implementation of short term items.

October 9, 2018 TPW Meeting – RCA and Video Link 

Snow plowing of City sidewalks: Feasibility and cost estimate presentation

Minneapolis City Council TV