Vaughan is winter ready

Nov. 6, 2019 2:00 p.m.
City of Vaughan
The City has more than 100 vehicles ready to clear the way this snowy season

Bring on the snow! Vaughan is ready to stand up to the storms with a dedicated fleet prepared to remove snow and ice from roads and sidewalks in the City.
 
With cold and snowy weather ahead, the City is prepared to provide some of the highest levels of winter maintenance in the GTA, including windrow-clearing services to every residential driveway in the community. The program also includes salting, plowing and snow removal along more than 2,000 lane-kilometres of roads and 1,000 kilometres of sidewalks throughout the city. Vaughan’s winter fleet features 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.
 
VAUGHAN’S WINTER SERVICES
 
The City is committed to ensuring the safety and mobility of all citizens with an extensive winter maintenance program which includes:
  • Salting, where weather conditions warrant, will be completed on main roads within four hours and residential roads within eight hours.
  • Plowing main roads and residential streets once five centimetres (two inches) of snow has fallen. Main roads are cleared within four hours after a snowfall has ended to keep them clear for emergency and transit vehicles. 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. 
  • Deploying residential windrow machines to clear a portion of the driveway (enough so a car can drive through) within four hours after the plow has passed.
  • Clearing and salting sidewalks in main public areas, such as school zones and places of worship, before moving to residential areas. Sidewalks on main roads are cleared within eight hours of a snowfall and within 16-hours on residential side streets.
 
HOW CITIZENS CAN HELP
 
Residents and motorists can help winter operations run effectively and efficiently by following these tips:
While snowplows are working, do not park on the street so crews can clear the entire road safely.
  • Remove anything that may interfere with plowing, including landscaping features such as fencing, basketball nets, decorative stones, pots and bird baths.
  • Clear snow and ice from sidewalks bordering your property within 24 hours after a snowfall has ended. Be mindful of where snow is placed – it is illegal to shovel or pile snow onto the road as per the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. See By-law 300-93 (PDF) for more information.
  • Ensure fire hydrants, gutters and catch basins near your property are not blocked and clear of snow.
  • Place garbage, recycling and composting bins on the right-hand side of the driveway when facing the house from the street. If the driveway is shared, place bins on your side.
  • Stay off the roads during a heavy snowstorm unless it is essential. Citizens are also encouraged to use York Region Transit to get around the city during inclement weather.
  • If driving, clean snow off all surfaces of the vehicle before leaving and stay well back from plows and salting equipment.
      
LOOKING FOR MORE?
 
For additional details and to receive the latest information on Vaughan’s winter operations:
 
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