Advocates of the Plow the Sidewalks program were asking for $1 million to start a pilot program in four areas of the city.
The Chicago City Council passed a budget that includes funding for a ‘Plow the Sidewalks’ pilot project, reports Quinn Myers in Block Club Chicago.
The $500,000 allocated to the project is roughly half of what advocates were asking for. Alderperson Daniel La Spata, who has been a strong supporter of the program, said the pilot will launch in December 2025 “and that the city will seek grants and philanthropic funding to supplement the $500,000.”
Earlier this month, disability rights advocates decried the mayor’s decision to omit the program from the proposed 2025 budget altogether. A May working group report recommended four test zones for the sidewalk-clearing program, which supporters say is essential to the mobility of residents with disabilities, people pushing strollers, and all pedestrians.
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Chicago Budget Fails to Include Snow Plowing Program
Disability rights advocates say the “Plow the Sidewalks” program is a necessity for Chicagoans with limited mobility in winter months.
Denver to Shift Sidewalk Repair Work to City, Funded by Property Owners
The city is shifting from a piecemeal approach to sidewalk repairs that charged property owners with doing the work to a more streamlined, city-led process.
Chicago Approves Sidewalk Clearing Pilot
The new program will develop plans for keeping sidewalks clear of snow and ice to improve accessibility.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
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Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness
A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.
USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
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