Everything you need to know about snow in Vaughan
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City answers top questions about winter maintenance
Winter weather is here, which means the City of Vaughan is ready to keep roads, sidewalks and windrows clear and safe for travel. To help you understand all the ins and outs of the City’s snow services, here are answers to top questions about snowplowing, salting and waste collection throughout the winter.
Q: A heavy snowfall has just occurred. When will the City plow and salt my street?
A: As soon as ice or snow begins to accumulate, salting crews are out on the City’s main roads. The City's goal is to complete a first round of salting on main roads within four hours of the start of an operation and complete salting residential roads, including narrower streets – like laneways found behind townhomes – within 12 hours of the start of an operation
Once five centimetres (two inches) of snow accumulate on the ground, snowplows begin to service the streets. During snowfall, the City is focused on getting the City’s main roads cleared first so emergency and transit vehicles get where they need to go. Main roads, which are travelled more frequently, are plowed within four hours after snowfall has ended. Residential roads are plowed within 12 hours after snowfall has ended.
Q: Where can I set out my waste when snowplows are out?
A: Garbage, recycling and compost bins should be placed on the right-hand side of the driveway when facing your house. Additionally, ensure bins are not set at the edge of the curb to minimize the chance of bins being knocked over by plows. This allows for the City to collect your waste safely and to clear snow effectively and efficiently in residential areas. Do not place bins on top of snow piles as this can be dangerous for collectors reaching for your bins. For more information, visit Solid Waste Management’s webpage or watch the Winter Waste Collection instructional video on the City of Vaughan YouTube channel.
Q: Why are some areas of my street not plowed properly?
A: Snowplowing and salting services may be impacted by a number of factors, including heavy snowfall, improper waste set out, cars parked on streets and cars parked on driveways too close to or hanging over the curb – which make it difficult for snowplows to clear the roads. As a friendly reminder, cars should not be parked on roads while snowplows are in service.
Q: Who is responsible for clearing windrows?
A: The City provides a windrow-clearing service to all residential driveways in Vaughan. Windrow machines will clear a portion of the driveway entrance, so a car can drive through, within four hours after the street has been plowed. The service does not clear windrows left by sidewalk plows and does not clear hardened snow, ice or the entire driveway. Windrow service may be impacted by a number of factors, including improper waste set out, cars parked on streets and cars parked on driveways too close to or hanging over the curb – which make it difficult for a windrow machine to effectively and/or safely clear snow from a driveway opening.
It is your responsibility to clear the small windrow across your driveway that is created by sidewalk plows. It is also illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road. Read the Ontario Highway Traffic Act – section 181 for more information.
Q: Why have the sidewalks not been plowed yet?
A: Once five centimetres (two inches) of snow accumulate on public sidewalks, City crews begin sidewalk plowing operations. Sidewalks on main roads are serviced first. During heavy snowfall or a major storm, these main sidewalk routes may be salted and plowed more than once before moving on to sidewalks in residential areas. After that, plows service paths and walkways within parks. The complete sidewalk network is plowed within 48 hours after snowfall has ended.
You are required to remove ice and snow on the sidewalk in front of or along your property by shovelling and/or throwing down salt. This must be done within 24 hours after snowfall has ended to ensure sidewalks are safe for pedestrians. This applies to homeowners, as well as owners of vacant land, industrial or institutional buildings, whether occupied or unoccupied. Read more about this by-law (PDF) and its amendment (PDF).
Q: Why does the snowplow seem to dump a lot of snow on corner lots?
A: Citizens living on corner lots usually have slightly more snow left in front of their houses as there is a larger portion of roadway that needs to be cleared at an intersection. The City’s windrow-clearing service removes a portion of the snow left at the end of the driveway by the plow.
Q: When will the snow be cleared around Canada Post mailboxes?
A: Canada Post maintains the area around its mailboxes and is responsible for snow clearing. For issues around mailboxes, contact Canada Post online or call 1-866-607-6301.
Q: When are bus stops cleared?
A: Bus stops are cleared by York Region Transit, normally within 48 hours after snowfall has ended. York Region has a big role to play when it comes to plowing major streets in the Vaughan. Bathurst Street, Dufferin Street, Keele Street and Major Mackenzie Drive, to name a few, are all owned and maintained by York Region. To find out which streets are managed by the Region, view this interactive map (all regional roads are highlighted in red).
The City of Vaughan clears windrows for citizens living along the streets that York Region plows, but only when plows are working in the immediate area. York Region plows its roads multiple times during and after a snowstorm for cleanup purposes. If the windrow was cleared, the City does not go back and plow again if the Region plows again as the City's windrow machines must get to all residential driveways as quickly as possible.
For questions about York Region’s snow-clearing program, contact Access York at 1-877-464-9675 or accessyork@york.ca.
Q: Are snowplowing services offered for seniors?
A: CHATS Snow-Clearing Program is a paid service that connects individuals with the organization’s pre-approved service providers with quotes for winter snow-clearing services. The cost for snow clearing is paid for by the homeowner. Services offered include driveway snow clearing, walkway clearing to the front/main door and salting on walkways to the front/main door. This program is available to Vaughan residents aged 55 and older or with an age-related illness. Subsidies are available based on the completion of a financial assessment. The program is available until Thursday, April 15, 2021. Early registration is encouraged and can be done by calling 1-866-677-9048, ext. 7669 (SNOW) or emailing snow@chats.on.ca.
For more information about City matters, please call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or visit vaughan.ca. To receive the City’s latest updates as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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