(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – As residents of the city get ready for heavy snow, think about this: By this time next year, some people may not have to shovel their sidewalks.
Shoveling snow off some residential sidewalks will be up to the city, under a pilot program that's set to take effect in 2025.
The main booster of that program is 36th Ward Ald. Gilbert Villegas, who says the pilot will be tried out in four areas yet to be determined. He said the cost to city government is a concern.
“And that's why I said, no problem, we'll study it. But I also mentioned to my colleague that opposed it, that when people are not spending money that's impacting our economy, as well."
Meaning, people who are snowed in can’t get out to visit stores.
Villegas estimates the cost of a full city-wide program to be between $10 million to $20 million per season.
"Once this is fully implemented, I think people will be like, why weren't we doing this before?"
Villegas says the city of Toronto shovels people's sidewalks.
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