Winter is coming

Nov. 15, 2018 10:00 a.m.

The City of Vaughan is prepared with high-level plowing, road maintenance and windrow services

 
The City of Vaughan is ready to protect and ensure the safety of citizens throughout the winter season. The City has dedicated more than 100 vehicles to remove snow and ice from roads and sidewalks and is the only municipality in the Greater Toronto Area to offer full windrow service to its residents.
 
The City’s service levels for winter maintenance include:
  • Plowing begins once five centimetres (two inches) of snow has accumulated.
  • All roads are plowed within 16 hours after snowfall has ended. Main roads are plowed and salted first, within four hours, to keep them clear for emergency and transit vehicles.
  • Windrow clearing service begins within four hours after the road has been plowed. Driveways will be cleared enough for a car to pass through.  
  • Main roads, such as Melville Avenue and Clark Avenue will be cleared first to create safe passage for emergency and transit vehicles.
  • Major roads, such as Bathurst Street, Dufferin Street, Keele Street and Major Mackenzie Drive, are maintained by York Region.
  • Main road sidewalks are cleared within eight hours of a snowfall ending, with residential streets being cleared within 16 hours.
  • During a heavy snowfall or major storm, the City will clear and salt sidewalks in main public areas before moving to residential areas.
How citizens can help:
  • Citizens are mandated by By-law 300-93 (PDF) to ensure sidewalks remain safe by clearing snow and ice from sidewalks bordering their property within 24 hours after a snowfall has ended.
  • 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 and bird baths.
  • Citizens must ensure cars are not parked on the street while snowplows are working, so road crews can carry out plowing operations and clear the entire street safely.
  • Citizens can use the Where is my snowplow? online lookup tool which provides residents with updates.
  • Citizens must make sure fire hydrants near their property are clear of snow.
  • Citizens 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.
  • Ensure garbage, recycling and composting bins are placed on the right side of the driveway when facing the house from the street. This allows for safe waste collection and for the City to clear the snow effectively in residential areas. 
There are a number of tools residents can use to get up-to-the-minute information on winter operations:

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