Winter operations update: Sunday, Feb. 16
City crews are cleaning up after major snowfall
Following the heavy snowfall overnight, and with more on the way today, 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 salting operations were completed overnight.
Road plowing began at 2:30 a.m. and is anticipated to be completed early this afternoon. A second plowing operation to address additional snowfall will start shortly afterward, as needed.
Sidewalk plowing and salting operations began at 5 a.m. with a focus on clearing major sidewalks. The snowfall has left significant amounts of snow on our sidewalk network, which has resulted in delays in service delivery.
Windrow clearing operations are in effect and may be delayed. 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 – is anticipated to be completed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Crews will continue working to address localized issues and are monitoring weather and road surface conditions to act accordingly.
Vaughan Public Libraries branches will close at noon today. Weather dependent, Pleasant Ridge Library, Vellore Village Library and Maple Library are anticipated to reopen tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other branches are anticipated to reopen on Tuesday, Feb. 18, pending weather conditions.
Community centres are open today with regular hours of operation. Programs are running as usual.
Outdoor City rinks are closed today. Outdoor skate lessons are also cancelled, and patrons have been notified.
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.
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.
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.
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
subscribe to Vaughan News
