STREET DESIGN GUIDANCE

3.2A Sidewalks Introduction

Building and maintaining attractive

and accessible sidewalk zones plays an
essential role in reaching City goals to
support and promote walking and rolling.

SIDEWALKS INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL

GUIDANCE
Building and maintaining attractive and accessible sidewalk zones plays an essential role in
reaching City goals to support and promote walking and rolling. The Minneapolis Complete Streets
STREET DESIGN GUIDE

policy establishes a modal framework that prioritizes serving the needs of people walking and rolling
first when planning for our transportation system and streets. The Minneapolis Transportation Action
Plan includes strategies to promote a safe and inviting walking and rolling environment and support
increasing the share of trips made by walking from 15% in 2010 to 25% in 2030.

ACCESSIBILITY
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and
mandates equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. The City of Minneapolis follows the most
recent 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and looks to Proposed Guidelines for Pedestrian
Facilities in the Public Right of way (PROWAG) for guidance on how to supplement the 2010 ADA
Standards. Key elements from those standards are included in this sidewalk guidance to ensure
accessibility.

INCLUSION OF SIDEWALKS
Sidewalks should generally be included on both sides of any newly constructed street. Streets that may
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require sidewalks on only one side of the street include:

City of Minneapolis

Development projects should include

A street without any local access on one side, construction of a continuous sidewalk
such as adjacent to a freeway or cemetery; and system adjacent to the development and
connecting to the existing sidewalk system in
line with guidance. This may require sidewalk
construction beyond the property frontage or
A street with severe topographic constraints on an adjacent block.
that make installing a sidewalk prohibitively
challenging.

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 STREET DESIGN GUIDANCE

3.2 Sidewalks

PEDESTRIAN PRIORITY NETWORK

The Pedestrian Priority Network is a grid of streets that represent where people most frequently
walk and often includes access to transit and commercial and regional destinations. The Pedestrian
Priority Network is the focus of planning, design, operations, and maintenance to improve the
ease, comfort, and safety of people walking throughout the year. (Note that a separate network of
sidewalks is prioritized for clearing snow from corners.)

Streets on the Pedestrian Priority Network should typically include wider pedestrian zones, frequent
high-quality pedestrian crossings, and more pedestrian-oriented street amenities. Streets not on
the Pedestrian Priority Network should be designed with pedestrian needs in mind in accordance
with the Complete Streets Policy.

ELEMENTS OF THE SIDEWALK ZONE

STREET DESIGN GUIDE

The sidewalk zone is one of three street zones. The sidewalk zone is typically located directly adjacent
to the edge of the public right of way. Sidewalks serve as the backbone of the pedestrian network
and support access between private property and streets. Sidewalks are for people to walk or gather.
Bicycles may use the sidewalk zone in limited locations outside of business districts or where shared
use paths are present. Motor vehicles also may need to travel across the sidewalk zone to access private
property via driveways or alleys.

The sidewalk zone is divided into three main subzones: frontage zone, pedestrian clear zone, and
boulevard and furnishing zone, which are described below. There are also three additional specialty
subzones that overlap with the sidewalk zone: the clear corner zone, the corner public use zone, and
the bus stop zone (see Figure 3.2A.1).

Figure 3.2A.1:
Sidewalk zones and specialty zones
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City of Minneapolis

Frontage Zone
The frontage zone is located immediately adjacent to the edge of the public right of way. This zone
provides space for street users to access land uses and serves as a buffer between the pedestrian
clear zone and buildings, structures, or elevation changes. Potential uses in the frontage zone include
landscaping, transit shelters, retail displays, sidewalk cafes, or other features that make the pedestrian
environment more attractive. Along streets with commercial uses, consideration should be given to
space for sidewalk cafes in the frontage zone in accordance with Process and Criteria for Sidewalk
Café Licenses.
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3.2 Sidewalks

Pedestrian Clear Zone

The pedestrian clear zone is located between the frontage zone and boulevard and furnishing zone.
This zone provides space for pedestrians to travel along streets and must be kept clear of obstructions,
vertical discontinuities (e.g. manhole or utility covers that protrude up), slippery surfaces (e.g. tree
grates or other slick metal), and non-compliant cross slopes. The pedestrian clear zone serves as the
Pedestrian Access Route, as defined by the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. The Pedestrian Access
Route ensures a minimum passable space for those using mobility devices such as wheelchairs and
provides predictability for those using other devices such as canes.

Boulevard and Furnishing Zone

The boulevard and furnishing zone is located between the pedestrian clear zone and
bikeway zone or roadway zone. This zone provides space for many activities: space for
pedestrians to gather or wait for transit, trees, landscaping, greening, furnishings, signs,
STREET DESIGN GUIDE

wayfinding, streetlights, street signal infrastructure, utility cabinets, bicycle and scooter
parking, charging stations for electric vehicles, and the curb. This zone also provides
separation from people walking and motor vehicles.

Sidewalk specialty zones

Clear corner zone. The Corner public use Bus stop zone. The
clear corner zone is an zone. The corner public bus stop zone is the
obstruction‐free space use zone is the portion area behind the curb
between the curb and of the boulevard which provides access
the lines created by and furnishing zone to buses, waiting space
extending the inside immediately adjacent and facilities for bus
sidewalk line to the curb to the clear corner zone passengers, as well as
face. Priority use of the generally designated through walk access.
clear corner zone shall for public utilities and See guidance on transit
be for accessible curb signs, including fire stops for more details.
ramps, accessible hydrants, traffic signals,
pedestrian signals, and streetlights, and service
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other pedestrian call cabinets.

City of Minneapolis

buttons.

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