Snow Policy Must Change

January 28th, 2010 in 2007-2010 Term, A functional city, Snow Removal

We – Edmonton City Council – need to change the city’s Winter Road Maintenance Policy.

City staff are for the most part achieving the 48 hour response target on main roads and bus routes, and they are doing exactly what they are supposed to do under the policy for residential side streets, which is to maintain a snow pack at 10 cm or less by ‘blading’ or smoothing with the sanding truck-plows.

I am receiving mixed feedback as to whether this is working for citizens, but what is clear is that there are many residential streets where the blading practice is not working. This is a pdf of a brief circulated to members of council from City staff indicating that they intend to change their practice to blade more frequently and more preemptively.

I’m not convinced that this is enough.

Precisely because there are too many variables (weight of the truck, skill of the operator, micro-climates in different parts of the city, traffic volumes, width of the street, presence of driveways) I do not think the 10 cm snow pack standard will suffice on a city-wide basis. I believe the many citizens who’ve contacted me are correct that blading when this 10 cm pack is loose is not an effective use of public dollars.

Winnipeg has been frequently cited this week as an example of a city where snow is handled well on side streets. We learned at the Transportation Committee presentation on Tuesday that their policy is also to maintain a snow pack, but their threshold is 5 cm which can’t break up as easily.

They do not remove snow from side streets, they generally pile it to one side of the street and ban parking there. They clear driveways if the windrows are higher that 8”. A handy FAQ on Winnipeg’s practices can be found here and their overall policy is here.

I think we should look seriously at lowering the snow pack from the current 10 cm to 5 cm if nothing else.

This approach has some advantages compared to going to bare pavement (which can then require more sanding if the pavement begins to ice up). When this pack does breaks up in warmer spells or in the spring the accumulations are insufficient to cause that ‘oatmeal’ effect which is so confounding to motorists and pedestrians.

I think plowing to bare pavement and removal of the windrows from all streets should be a last resort, and I’m not sure it would be a prudent use of public dollars outside of an extreme snowfall.

The city is doing a survey in February of citizens’ experiences and expectations, which will likely confirm what Councillors are hearing from citizens and reading in the papers.

I think Council needs to have the policy debate first, being mindful of the costs, and then talk about how we might pay for it. A tax increase should be the last resort, and I agree that threatening the public with that is not helping. I haven’t been doing that.

As chair of the Transportation and Public Works committee I will be personally following up on this in April when a report comes to us outlining alternatives to the current policy.

In the mean time I am applying pressure to city administration to consider a proper grader pass in the areas where the oatmeal is worst.

17 thoughts on “Snow Policy Must Change”

  1. My biggest problem is windrows in front of schools; I think drop-off areas at schools (especially elementary schools) should be given the same priority as bus routes.

    Good to know that council is looking critically at their programs.

  2. Cyclists fare worst of all with this “oatmeal” – I haven’t taken to the sidewalk but I know many other who have. It seems that this year the bike routes on the south side are actually getting LESS attention (maybe because the Bike Engineer position is now vacant?). 112 St. from 82 Ave south is in appalling shape still, while 111 St. is almost clear. Our community has already kicked up a fuss about 112 but it still isn’t acceptable, and the avenues along it are still 15 cm deep in oatmeal. Any cyclist who makes the mistake of slowing down at the yield sign will end up walking their bike there.

  3. Whatever happened to the “snow routes” the city used to have? After a snowfall of x cms, parking was banned on these routes. Cars still there were towed off the street. Graders could then do a proper job. Even if they didn’t plow to bare pavement, at least the snowpack would be consistent across the street, making it safe for parking and pedestrians. The current practise of blading residential streets creates additional hazards – the trucks just blade the driving lanes. The parking lanes are left a rutted mess with a windrow. In their current state, you just can’t “ease” in and out of street parking – you have to gun it and pray there isn’t a car coming too fast (or pray the ruts don’t put you into another parked car as you try to parallel park).

  4. Interesting, but how would this work in a residential area like Hazeldean or Ritchie where the parking lanes are always completely full because everyone parks on the street, thus leaving a lane-and-a-half (if that) for two directions of traffic?

  5. Don: I grew up in Winnipeg, and recall many a night when less than 6-8 hours after a major snowstorm, plows would be on our sidestreets, clearing the roads of snow down to about the 5 cm level. Behind the plows were front-end loaders, which would scoop the windrows out of our driveways onto our front lawns. It was brilliant, and absolutely expected. This is the type of service I have always expected but never seen in Edmonton, ever.

    While I have lived in Edmonton for over 30 years, my parents are still in Winnipeg, and can confirm that ALL the sidestreets are regularly plowed after major storms. They visited at Christmas and as usual, were appalled by the driving conditions on our sidestreets.

    It astonishes me that this debate continues decade and decade. I live in Skyrattler, on one of the cul-de-sacs by Taylor U College. The driving condition on our road has been terrible since the first major snowstorm, as has 22nd Avenue, which bisects the neighbourhood from Saddleback Road at two ends.

    I have seen no evidence whatsoever that plows have moved down 22nd Avenue, or on any of the cul-de-sacs in this neighbourhood. Last weekend, I spent an hour shovelling the entrance to our cul-de-sac, which was what the transportation engineers might describe as oatmeal.

    I love this city, but the lack of snowplowing on sidestreets has infuriated me since I moved here. It makes no sense whatsoever NOT to plow the streets where we live.

    As for major thoroughfares, while they are often plowed well, on the south side where I live, it often seems like it takes days for that to happen. Also, the creation of windrows makes for more dangerous driving. I’d prefer to see the snow removed by dump trucks rather than be piled up in very high windrows.

    We live in a winter city, and yet the Edmonton City Council never seems to recognize and accept this. I support your efforts to work towards having all streets plowed after a major storm, including sidestreets, within at least 48 hours of such a storm. I am willing to accept a property tax increase to realize an improvement in service. The only people who would like to see things remain the same might be those who work in auto repair shops.

    Thank you for the opportunity to express my concerns on your blog.

    Sincerely,
    Randy Reichardt

  6. Why are we even discussing bikes on roads in winter, when the City of Edmonton isn’t even capable of clearing roads enough for cars to travel safely in residential areas (except, of course, in Garneau, where a high percentage of roads near the UofA have snow removal being done – hmm… go figure!) Edmonton City Council needs to just do the citizens of Edmonton right, and make it a safe place to drive, walk, drop off children at school, etc., instead of making winter travel hazardous except for super well-travelled main roads (and side roads in communities like Garneau, for some reason – oh, wait, it’s near the UofA…)

  8. the u of a in general is a very high traffic, and high density area…. it makes sense to give it a greater priority than the suburban streets with very low density. you got to get the most bang for your buck.

  9. We discuss bikes because some of us continue to ride to work, and deserve at least the same consideration given cars. I end up using the sidewalk when the streets aren’t safe to ride. The city has been doing a pretty good job on most of the paths I use regularly.

    I concur that many people are frustrated when told we can’t afford to do what they consider fundamental duties of our city management, yet can afford world’s fair bids and the Indy race. I support both of those initiatives, but not at the cost of reducing basic services I consider essential in our climate.

    Thanks Don.

  10. I have to agree with Jim Good. I live on 112st, I work from home, but I daily see the hard willed cycle heads trying to navigate the “official” city bike route to work. I’m constantly surprised by the number who try to navigate the streets in winter on two wheels and this should be encouraged! While I don’t daily commute, often times I need to run an errand from home and I try to bike when I can. Biking in this oatmeal is impossible.

    The city has designated Park Allen an EcoMobility community. 112st is the major cycle route for this community to access both the university and downtown. I’m confused as to why the city is trying to promote “EcoMobility” while not following through and making the bike routes safe and useable all year round. If the city is trying to be a leader then they are definitely not leading.

    All us cyclists are asking for is a safe way to get to work. Can we please clean up these bike routes and promote cycling to a year round option? Lets get some cars off the roads!

    Thanks,
    Tys

    EcoMobility links:
    https://doniveson.ca/2009/06/17/ecomobility-in-edmonton-iclei-day-three/
    http://www.edmonton.ca/environmental/programs/local-motion-eco-friendly-transportation.aspx

  11. I read your article from Edmonton Examiner, this is the 1st one so far as I know from a city official. I am always wondering why some other cities can plow and clean immediately as snow falls, but, edmonton can only put on dirt every snow to make the whole city dirty and muddy and has to wait for May/June to clean once a year? Are some other cities superior and we inferior???!!! Other cities’ tax might be a little higher, but definitely not huge.

    Thanks.

  14. What I do not understand, why home owners and bussinesses can not shovel thier sidewalks ? I have a walker and I and going to , go to the NEWS, once again , but this time as a handicapman I am going to start shoveling thier sidewalks. Maybe all handicap and Senior’s, should be shovelling , so we can jump in the box earlier, with heart attacks because EDMONTONIANS, are trying to isolate us in our homes ?

  15. May I suggest that IM-Park a company who has a virtual monopoly on parking downtown be told that if they do not clean out the snow in their public parking lots that they will be heavily fined by the city and or risk they’re operating licence not be renewed.
    Does the City have any control over this bunch.
    They IM-Park should have a corporate responsibility to provide a safe area to park and walk.
    Go take a look at the mess in their lots.
    It has been two weeks now, and no effort at all has been made.
    Ask your self how a handicapped person in a wheel chair or a brittle older person can manage getting through the porridge like moguls of snow in these lots
    As parking is at such a premium downtown the choice to simply use another parking lot service who is proactive and cares about peoples safety is not usually an option available to most of us.
    When you have the only parking for blocks they don’t have to care.
    Can we/you make them care?

  16. Hi Don, It is good to see that you are very well informed on the issue of road clearing. I wanted to add my perspective to the debate. I am a resident of Grandview Heights. I am sending this email to highlight the somewhat sorry state of our side streets. I needed to call a tow truck this evening because the ruts were deeper than my car (actually SUV) could handle. Much more serious situation if an emergency vehicle is required. I note that plows work the bus routes in the neighborhood and could efficiently handle the side roads but often leave. Thanks for staying focused on our city’s issues.

Comments are closed.