Vaughan is ready for winter!

Nov. 6, 2020 10:00 a.m.
New, innovative approach to salting will leverage smart technology

The City of Vaughan continues to take a progressive approach to winter maintenance by becoming the first municipality in Canada to adopt a smart-technology artificial intelligence tool to better allocate resources and reduce salt usage. This tool will ensure the City is applying the right salt, at the right time, in the right amount, in the right place.
 
Using sensors, this tool will take various factors into account – including weather models, Vaughan’s micro-climates, traffic volumes, and road temperatures, moisture and conditions – to inform road winter maintenance decisions. This innovative approach will keep the road network safe, while maintaining fiscal prudence and environmental consciousness.
 
Winter services
 
In addition to salting, the City’s winter maintenance program includes windrow-clearing, plowing and snow removal along more than 2,000 lane-kilometres of roads and 1,000 kilometres of sidewalks throughout the community. With more than 100 vehicles including salter/snowplow units, windrow machines, sidewalk machines, pickup trucks equipped with plows and salters, cul-de-sac-clearing machines and anti-icing units, the City has residents covered for anything Mother Nature brings.
 
  • Snow plowing: 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 snowfall has ended. Main roads are salted and plowed first within four hours to keep them clear for emergency and transit vehicles.

  • Salting and snow clearing: 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.

  • 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.
 
How residents can do their part
 
Residents are encouraged to help the City with winter operations by following these tips to ensure everyone is safe this winter.
  • Residents and visitors of Vaughan are reminded to keep cars off the street while snowplows are clearing the road to assist the City in ensuring streets are cleared properly and safely. Overnight parking is not permitted in Vaughan between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
  • The community has a role to play. Residents must clear snow and ice from sidewalks bordering their property within 24 hours after snowfall has ended to help ensure roads and sidewalks remain safe, as stated in By-law 300-93.
  • Garbage, recycling and composting bins should be placed on the right-hand side of the driveway. This allows crews to safely collect waste and for the City to clear the snow effectively in residential areas.
  • Residents must make sure fire hydrants near their home or business are clear of snow.
  • It is important to keep catch basins and culverts clear of snow and debris to help prevent potential flooding.
  • Citizens must 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, etc.
  • Residents must be mindful of where snow is placed. It is illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road as per the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
  • Citizens are encouraged to stay off the roads during a heavy snowstorm unless it is essential. Residents can also use York Region Transit to get around the city during inclement weather.
  • Be sure to clean snow off all vehicle surfaces before leaving and stay well back from snowplows and salting equipment.
 
CHATS Snow-Clearing Program
 
CHATS-Community & Home Assistance to Seniors is a not-for-profit organization that has been providing home and community supports to older adults across York Region and South Simcoe since 1980. The CHATS Snow-Clearing Program is a paid service that connects individuals with the organization’s pre-approved service providers with quotes for winter snow clearance 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 age-related illness. Subsidies are available based on the completion of a financial assessment.
 
The CHATS Snow-Clearing Program is available from Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020 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.   
 
QUOTE
 
“Through the City of Vaughan’s comprehensive winter maintenance program, we are committed to ensuring the safety, mobility and well-being of all citizens throughout the season. To further support our older adult population this winter, Community and Home Assistance to Seniors (CHATS) is offering paid winter snow clearance services to residents aged 55 and older or to individuals with age-related illnesses. We are calling on the great citizens of Vaughan to do their part this year to support our winter operations by keeping cars off the street while snowplows are clearing the road, placing garbage, recycling and composting bins on the right-hand side of the driveway, and clearing snow off fire hydrants near your home or business. I want to extend my gratitude and appreciation to our dedicated team of public works professionals for their efforts to ensure essential services continue to be delivered uninterrupted. As COVID-19 persists, we are grateful for everything they do to keep our families, friends and neighbours safe.”
- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
 
QUICK FACTS
 
  • 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 the city.
  • The City’s winter maintenance program focuses on Operational Performance, Active, Safe and Diverse Communities and Citizen Experience priorities in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.
  • CHATS-Community & Home Assistance to Seniors (CHATS) is a not-for-profit organization that has been providing home and community supports to older adults across York Region and South Simcoe since 1980.
LEARN MORE
 
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