Everything to know about City winter operations

Winter is in full swing, and that means the City of Vaughan’s crews are on the job! Learn everything you need to know about the City’s efficient, reliable and high-level winter operations for the 2021/22 season.

The City’s winter maintenance program includes salting, windrow clearing, plowing and snow removal along more than 2,000 lane-kilometres of roads and 1,000 kilometres of sidewalks throughout Vaughan. With the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, known as the Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS), the City leverages weather forecasts, data from actual road conditions and Vaughan’s operating best practices to recommend treatment for the City’s roads and sidewalks. Since the adoption of this innovative AI technology in 2020, the City has reduced salt usage by 30 per cent and saved approximately $400,000 to date. This has had a positive impact on the environment, reflects the City’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, and enhances the citizen experience.

With a fleet of more than 100 vehicles comprised of combination salter/snowplow units, windrow machines, sidewalk machines, pickup trucks equipped with plows and salters, cul-de-sac-clearing machines and anti-icing units, staff are ready to take on the Canadian winter!

• Snowplowing: Plowing begins as soon as five centimetres (two inches) of snow have accumulated on public roads. The City aims to plow all roads within 16 hours after a snowfall has ended. Main roads are plowed first within four hours to keep them clear for emergency and transit vehicles before moving to residential areas.
• Salting: During a heavy snowfall or major storm, the City will salt and clear sidewalks in main public areas before moving to residential areas. Residential streets are cleared within 12 hours after a snowfall has ended. Services on major roads in Vaughan, such as Bathurst Street, Dufferin Street, Keele Street and Major Mackenzie Drive, are maintained by York Region. For a full list of regional roads, visit york.ca/roads. Sidewalks are cleared within 48 hours after a snowfall has ended. The priority is sidewalks on main roads, followed by sidewalks on residential side streets.
• Brining: Before a snowfall, the City helps prepare roads by spraying brine, a liquid made of rock salt and water. It is sprayed on the road surface in anticipation of freezing temperatures to prevent the formation of black ice or in advance of a winter snow event. The liquid brine works immediately as a barrier, so precipitation doesn't stick to the road and slippery conditions are avoided.
• Windrow clearing: The City offers a windrow-clearing service to residents. Within four hours after the plow has passed, the residential windrow-clearing machines will clear a portion of the driveway entrance to allow a car to pass through.

For more information on the City’s winter maintenance service levels, visit vaughan.ca/snow.

Throughout the winter months, the City of Vaughan is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of citizens, implementing process efficiencies to deliver effective and efficient road maintenance and providing exceptional end-to-end citizen centred services. These objectives are part of the Operational Performance, Active, Safe and Diverse Communities and Citizen Experience priorities in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.

For the latest updates, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

-30-​