GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids has determined which stretches of the city will be targeted for sidewalk snow removal during the city’s one-year pilot program.

City officials agreed earlier this month to a contract worth up to $100,000 for sidewalk-clearing service from Grand Rapids-based Lavelle’s Lawn Care & Snowplowing. The service is expected to begin in mid-December.

The contracted sidewalk snow removal will occur on about two dozen main roads, including sections of Knapp Street, Richmond Street, Monroe Avenue, Leonard Street, Plainfield Avenue, Fuller Avenue, Walker Avenue, Bridge Street, Ottawa Avenue, Michigan Street, Fulton Street, Market Avenue, Division Avenue, Wealthy Street, Lake Drive, Franklin Avenue, Hall Street, Burton Street, Madison Avenue, Eastern Avenue and Kalamazoo Avenue.

The service will also target three neighborhoods, including one in each of the three wards. Those areas are generally as follows:

Hall Street to the north, Clyde Park and Grandville avenues to the west, Burton Street to the south, and Century Avenue to the east;

Streets affected by Grand Rapids' one-year sidewalk snow removal pilot program, which is set to begin in December 2019. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

Franklin Avenue to the north, Madison Avenue to the west, Hall Street to the south, and Eastern Avenue to the east;

Streets affected by Grand Rapids' one-year sidewalk snow removal pilot program, which is set to begin in December 2019. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

Fulton Street to the north, Union Avenue to the west, Diamond Avenue to the east and Wealthy Street to the south.

Streets affected by Grand Rapids' one-year sidewalk snow removal pilot program, which is set to begin in December 2019. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

The idea to try out a one-year program came as part of the Fiscal Year 2020 budget planning process, led by City Manager Mark Washington. The budget included $100,000 set aside for the pilot, as a means to evaluate the feasibility of a sidewalk clearing program that encompasses the entire city.

As the local ordinance stands now, property owners are required to clear any ice or snow from public sidewalks adjoining their property within 24 hours of accumulation or placement of snow or ice on said sidewalks. Residents who live in the neighborhoods where sidewalk snow removal will be provided could still be fined for being in violation of the ordinance if snow or ice is left more than 24 hours, according to city staff.

Grand Rapids officials sought bids and received responses from three companies. Of those, Lavelle’s Lawn Care & Snowplowing had the low bid at $81,045 -- considerably less than the two competing bids.

The pilot program will assist select neighborhoods with removal of snow on the sidewalk as required. The program addresses 100 miles of the 922 miles of sidewalks in the city.

Locations selected for the trial run were chosen based on poverty levels, population of older adults, population of people with disabilities, pedestrian traffic levels, unemployment percentage, population of school-age children, distance to transport stops and past concentrations of sidewalks snow removal complaints.

The split of the neighborhoods in the pilot is about 80/20 network streets to neighborhood streets.