The first snowfall of the season is on its way
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Quick tips
to help keep the community safe during winter weather events
The forecast is calling for the first snowfall of the season – beginning tonight through to Monday morning – and the City of Vaughan is ready! The team is working to ensure residents and visitors can travel safely regardless of the weather … but are you prepared? There are a number of simple ways residents can help ensure the City’s winter operations run smoothly, efficiently and safely:
- Keep cars off the street while snowplows are out to help the City ensure streets are cleared properly and safely. On-street parking is not permitted between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in Vaughan.
- Clear snow and ice from sidewalks bordering your property within 24 hours after snowfall has ended to help ensure roads and sidewalks remain safe, as stated in By-law 300-93.
- Set waste bins back from the curb approximately one metre on the right-hand side of the driveway (when facing the home). They should never be placed on top of or behind snowbanks.
- Keep fire hydrants clear and accessible (one metre all around). Blocked, concealed or difficult-to-access fire hydrants can impede emergency fire response.
- Keep catch basins and culverts clear of snow and debris to help prevent potential flooding during temperature fluctuations.
- Remove anything that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews. This includes landscaping features, such as fencing, basketball nets, decorative stones, pots, bird baths, furniture and more.
- Be mindful of where shoveled snow is placed. It is illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
- Clean snow off all surfaces of your vehicle before driving and keep a safe distance from snowplows and salting equipment.
Winter
operations
The
City provides citizens with efficient and reliable winter services – whether
it’s reducing ice on roads or clearing snow from local streets, paths and
sidewalks, the City’s crews strive to take on whatever the Canadian winter has
in store. Here are some of the services provided:
- 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.
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.
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