Mayor Walsh Announces Expanded Sidewalk Snow Removal Routes

Published on November 22, 2022

Municipal program now clears nearly 125 miles of sidewalks and reaches every city school

City reminds residents: property owners are still responsible for clearing snow from their sidewalks

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced the routes covered by this year’s expanded supplemental sidewalk snow removal program. Following a snowfall of three inches or more, the City will now clear 125 miles, a 25% increase over last winter. The expanded routes include sections First North and Court Streets on the Northside, Burnet Avenue and East Fayette Street on the Eastside, South State and South Salina Streets on the Southside, and Milton and Park Avenues on the Westside.

Now in its fourth season, the supplemental sidewalk snow removal program includes an additional 25 miles of routes in a connected network of sidewalks cleared by the City.  All Syracuse City schools are covered under the program. The full map of routes is available at goto.syr.gov/wintersidewalks.

“Sidewalk snow removal is an example of what we can accomplish as a city,” said Mayor Ben Walsh. “We’re making neighborhoods more walkable every winter.  And the more we expand the program, the safer our city becomes for both pedestrians and drivers.”

The City partnered with the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council to develop a data-driven framework in which traffic flow and pedestrian activity are analyzed together with heavily-trafficked roads and important locations for pedestrians, like schools, stores, and neighborhood amenities. The findings inform a connected network of sidewalks that get cleared following a snow event of three inches or more, allowing for better mobility of pedestrians all around the city.

Mayor Walsh reminded city residents that sidewalk snow removal is still the responsibility of property owners and that this program is only supplemental. Even if City contractors are not able to plow supplemental routes by 6: 00 p.m. following a significant snowfall, residents on these routes are still responsible for ensuring their sidewalks are clear of snow and ice. According to City ordinance, residents should not shovel, sweep, throw, plow, or otherwise deposit snow or ice into a street, sidewalk, or City park.

Residents can learn more about the program and even monitor the City’s sidewalk plowing efforts in real-time after a significant snowfall at goto.syr.gov/wintersidewalks. To learn more about the City’s other winter weather operations or parking requirements and best practices for winter, visit goto.syr.gov/winter

City residents can call Cityline at 315-448-2489 to report other snow related concerns or to make service requests. For all emergencies, the public should call 911.