When a majority of the property owners, or the owners of a majority of the feet frontage, on any one or both sides of any street, road or lane, between any two intersecting streets, and used as a public highway, in cities of the first class, where property is assessed at suburban rates, shall petition the councils of said city for a paved footway along the same, councils shall, when such petition is received, direct the department of public works, bureau of highways, of said city, to notify the owners of property on said street, or such parts thereof as may have been included in the petition, to have such footway paved in front of their respective premises, within thirty (30) days after receiving said notice.
53 P.S. § 13841