Review Sidewalk Plowing Policy 

 

Critical plowing vs non issue

 

Establish policy on who will be responsible for maintenance

 

Define the difference between sidewalks and trails

 

Enforcement-Level of service

 

Inventory and map

 

Review impact to sidewalk policy-do we continue to add sidewalks

 

 

Our current policy requires Public Works to plow all trails and sidewalks. Under that policy our priorities are the school walking areas first, the COR area second and all remaining sidewalks and trails next. Most 8-10' trails are cleared at the end of a full scale plowing event. The remaining trails and sidewalks, not included in the school walking areas or the COR, are completed within 48 hours of the end of the plowing event. We do not use overtime to plow sidewalks or trails.

 

 

There are several options to consider.

 

 

Public Works would continue to be responsible for clearing all sidewalks and trails on public roadways.

 

 

These are the most time consuming areas. With space being limited, contractors pile snow on the sidewalks making it difficult, if not impossible to get through after a couple of snowfalls. Associations are reminded to inform their contractors about plowing snow onto sidewalks, but compliance is sporadic at best.

 

 

While clearing the sidewalk adjacent to residential property is fairly common, we have quite a few undeveloped lots in some areas. Any policy requiring homeowners to clear sidewalks would have to address the vacant property situation as well. Clearing the transportation/recreational trails is not commonly done by residents. This would in all likelihood require the resident to either own or have access to some type of snow removal equipment.

 

 

The majority of these trails and sidewalks are located along arterial roads and receive more snow than residential sidewalks. Trails are normally cleared with pickups early in the season. Later in the year, when snow depths are greater, the trails need to be widened out using a snow blower attachment. Trails along county and state roads are particularly hard to clear.

 

 

Contractor would need to have commercial grade equipment. Once the snow gets deep a V-plow is no longer able to clear the snow and a high volume blower is needed.

 

 

A policy could include parts from all the above options.

  

 

For our purposes a sidewalk is normally 5' concrete walkway used in residential areas or mixed use areas such as the COR. A trail is an 8'-10' bituminous walkway used in parks or adjacent to major roadways used for recreation or alternative transportation.

 

 

If a policy is adopted where residents are responsible for snow removal, then some type of protocol will need to be established to ensure the job is completed. Minneapolis and St. Paul both require residential sidewalks be cleared within 24 hours from the end of the snow fall. Enforcement seems to start with education of the policy, but does lead to a citation and fine eventually.

 

 

We have approximately 39 miles of sidewalks and trails.

 

 

Current policy states that all new subdivisions will be constructed with sidewalks. Working towards the goal of making Ramsey a more walkable community, sidewalks may need to be installed in existing neighborhoods, as well to make our system more continuous. Adding maintenance responsibilities to residents may increase resistance to such projects.