Winter operations update: Monday, Feb. 17
City crews continue cleaning up after major snowfall
Vaughan received nearly 40 centimetres of snowfall this weekend, and City of Vaughan crews continue to work around the clock to clear roads, sidewalks and windrows.
The City continues to be under a Significant Weather Event – road safety is the top priority in our operations. Here is everything you need to know about today’s winter maintenance efforts:
Cleanup efforts continue today to address the large accumulation of snowfall.
Road plowing is ongoing into this evening to clear residual slow in localized areas. Crews continue to monitor weather and road surface conditions to act accordingly.
Windrow clearing operations continue today and may take longer than normal due to the volume of snow accumulation. Please note, due to the limited size and reach of the windrow-clearing units, they can only clear a portion of the driveway entrance, enough for one car to pass through – residual amounts of snow may be left behind.
Excess snow removal and relocation on narrow roads – including cul-de-sacs, laneways behind townhomes, and businesses – will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Sidewalk plowing and salting operations will continue today and tomorrow to ensure safe and accessible pathways. The snowfall has left significant amounts of snow on all city sidewalks, which has resulted in delays in service delivery.We thank you for your patience as crews work hard to clear sidewalks as quickly as possible.
Pleasant Ridge Library, Vellore Village Library and Maple Library are open today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other Vaughan Public Library branches are closed and will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 18, pending weather conditions.
Community centres are open today with modified hours of operation. Special Family Day programming and activities are offered at select community centres.
Outdoor City rinks are open today, except for the rink at the Father E. Bulfon Community Centre.
Staff continue to monitor the road network and assess the progress of the snow-clearing efforts and will continue deploying all available resources.
Your role in winter maintenance:
Managing snow in Vaughan is a community effort. Here are some ways you can help the City’s winter operations run as smoothly and safely as possible.
As significant snowfall amounts have resulted in large snowbanks, drivers are urged to exercise caution and be extra careful near pedestrian crossings. Go slow and look all ways before you go.
Remove anything from your property that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews. This includes landscaping features, such as fencing, decorative stones, pots, bird baths, furniture and more, as stated in the City’s Encroachment By-law (PDF). These items should not be within 30 centimetres of a sidewalk or one metre of a street curb.
Clean snow off all vehicle surfaces before driving and keep a safe distance from snowplows and salting equipment.
Set waste bins and bags back from the curb approximately one metre on the right-hand side of your driveway, where possible (when facing the home). They should never be buried in snow or placed on top of or behind snowbanks. Crews will not be able to return for waste materials that are buried in snow.
Don’t park cars on the street while snowplows are out. Under the City’s Parking By-law (PDF), on-street parking is not permitted between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in Vaughan without a permit or when snowplows are clearing the streets – even with a permit. Crews cannot effectively clear roads and laneways with cars parked along them. The fine for parking on the street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. without a permit or when snowplows are clearing the streets is $100.
The City’s Snow Clearing By-law (PDF) states that you are responsible for removing snow and ice from sidewalks that border your property to ensure your neighbours can walk safely on a clear path without fear of slipping on ice or snow.
Do not dump snow on the road. It is illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and the City’s Dumping By-law (PDF). If you have hired a contractor to plow your laneway or sidewalk, ensure they are licensed with the City and they do not leave snow on the road either.
Stay off the roads during a heavy snowstorm unless travel is essential. You can also use York Region Transit to get around the city during inclement weather.
Keep fire hydrants clear and accessible (one metre all around). Blocked, concealed or difficult-to-access fire hydrants can slow down emergency fire response. As outlined in the City’s Water By-law (PDF), residents who have a fire hydrant on their property or City property adjacent to theirs are responsible for ensuring the hydrant is always visible and unobstructed.
Help keep catch basins clear of snow and ice to prevent flooding during temperature fluctuations, if it’s safe to do so.
To report non-emergency winter maintenance service requests, contact Service Vaughan.
Stay informed
For additional details and to receive the latest information on Vaughan’s winter operations:
create a profile on vaughan.ca and sign up for the “Snow Information Alert” to receive snow alerts directly in your inbox. Visit vaughan.ca/support for a step-by-step guide.
contact the SNOW hotline at 905-879-SNOW (7669) or email snow@vaughan.ca
follow the City’s official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
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