Sidewalk Improvement Program

Sidewalk Improvement Program 2021-2026

At the August 12, 2019 city commission meeting, the commission directed the engineering division to begin a new six-year sidewalk improvement program, which began in Spring 2021. The city is separated into six target areas to perform sidewalk replacement work each year.

The Sidewalk Improvement Program includes maintenance of existing sidewalks and the installation of new sidewalks where they currently do not exist. Providing and maintaining continuous sidewalks that link neighborhoods, schools, and community facilities is a primary goal of the city’s master plan as well as Royal Oak’s Non-Motorized Transportation Plan.

2025 Potential New Sidewalks

Within the target area, staff has identified 22 locations that currently do not have public sidewalk along segments of the right-of-way. Considering the available space within the right-of-way, existing obstructions, grade elevations and overall benefit to the community, staff is recommending new sidewalks be installed at three of these locations. The report below provides an overview map and a summary the recommendations for each location.

2025 Report on Potential New Sidewalks

Engineering will present this report to the city commission at the June 23, 2025 meeting to determine if new sidewalks should be installed, or if properties should be exempted from installation. Potentially affected properties will be notified via letter.

It should be noted that there are many segments that currently do not have sidewalk in the industrial area west of Delemere Boulevard and north of Normandy Road (locations 12 through 22 on the report). The Master Plan recommends that this area be transformed into a walkable district with multi-family housing, enhanced streetscapes, wider sidewalks, street trees and improved lighting. The Planning Division intends to develop a sub-area master plan for this district, though this process will likely not begin for at least a year. Knowing that a major transformation could occur in this district, staff recommends that no new sidewalk be installed at those locations. These locations are shown in yellow on the map.

Exemptions for Sidewalk Replacement

In the spring, after receiving the construction notification letter with your estimate for sidewalk improvement, you can schedule a meeting with the project manager for concerns regarding your sidewalk. If you still disagree with the proposed sidewalk to be replaced, the project manager will give you an Exemption Request form to fill out and submit to the city engineer, who will review it and make a final decision. The exemption must be approved before the city’s contractor arrives on your street.

Payment Plans

Property owners must submit Payment Plan Request forms
to the Engineering Division PRIOR to receiving their bill

If you would like to have your cost for the sidewalk improvements spread over a longer period of time, you can fill out a Sidewalk Payment Plan Request form. This will be reviewed by the city commission. If approved, payment plans will be billed through the treasurer's office, typically spread over six years with a maximum 6% interest rate. Interest rates and time period are established by the city commission prior to billing. Plans can be paid off at any time without penalty through the treasurer's office. Currently, this is the only payment plan offered by the city and you must elect this option prior to receiving your bill.

General Timeline

FALL

During the fall, the Engineering Division begins inspecting existing sidewalks and determines which sidewalks exhibit deficiencies requiring correction in accordance with the approved s

idewalk replacement criteria.

SPRING

In the spring of each year, homeowners in the designated target area will be notified of the specifics of the program, and in particular, the deficiencies identified on the sidewalk adjacent to their property that they are responsible to maintain as outlined in City Code §650. A cost estimate will be included in the notification letter. The Engineering Division will begin addressing individual property owner concerns only after notifications have been sent out in the spring.

SUMMER

Removal and replacement of sidewalk happens throughout the summer construction season, generally from May through October. If more work is required than the original letter estimated, property owners will receive an updated estimate on their front door.

WINTER

Final quantities and costs are verified for each property and then single, one-time invoices are generated and mailed to the current property owner, typically by Spring.

Sidewalk Improvement Program