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Snow/Ice Removal in the City of Vancouver
http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/streets/snow.htm
Snow/Ice Removal in the City of Vancouver
The City of Vancouver takes snow/ice removal seriously
Modern cities such as Vancouver depend on clear streets for the free movement of fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, public transit, transport vehicles and private passenger vehicles.
Cleared streets are safer streets. Snow and ice removal cuts down on vehicle accidents, with all their attendant human and material costs. Also, if streets are not cleared of snow and ice, large losses can result from interrupted business activity. Many workers could be deprived of income if they cannot reach their workplace.
City Priorities for Clearing
Streets
The City of Vancouver first focuses its efforts to control snow and ice on the arterial streets, transit routes, and major collector streets. These are designated ?Snow Emergency Routes? and are treated immediately after a snowfall. Sufficient equipment is available to treat all such routes within a few hours under usual snowfall conditions.
Bridges
Bridge decks are very susceptible to icing. These are also given top priority by the snow and ice control personnel for patrolling, salting and sanding.
Residential hills and designated bicycle routes (that is, integrated routes on city streets, rather than strictly recreational routes such as along the waterfront) are also considered a high priority. Every attempt is made to treat them on the first day.
Frost and snow on steep streets
In some cases, steep streets such as Oak from Broadway to 6th. Avenue will be barricaded off to prevent cars from attempting to drive on the hills.
Sidewalks
Sidewalks are not cleared by City staff, except on bridges, pedestrian underpasses and overpasses, public access walks and stairs, and in bus stop landing areas.
City-owned parking lots
Some City-owned parking lots may be cleared by City staff, but this work receives the lowest priority.
Equipment
The City of Vancouver has the following equipment that can be deployed for snow and ice clearing:
27 trucks fitted with salter/plow combinations
six trucks equipped for salting only
17 backhoes
two graders, four walk-behind snowplows, and two Bombardiers.
Budget
The City budgets $400,000 per year for maintenance of snow removal equipment, for purchasing salt, and for training of staff. The costs of actual snow removal are funded separately from contingency reserve funds, and can vary widely from season to season ($1.1 million in 1998 to $0 in 2001.)
Public Responsibilities
Vancouver property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks that surround their property by 10 a.m.
The City's snow removal by-law applies to all property owners in the city EXCEPT one- and two-family residences outside the downtown peninsula -- south of Burrard Inlet, north of Terminal Avenue, False Creek and English Bay, west of Main Street, and east of Stanley Park.
Property owners who fail to remove snow and ice as required by the by-law may be subject to a fine of up to $2,000, or the City can have the snow removed and bill the owner for the cost.
The City encourages everyone to clear their sidewalks, and help others who can't.
Solid Waste Collection
For health reasons, priority is given to garbage collection. Recycling and yard waste collection may be delayed due to conditions in lanes.
Common Questions About Snow/Ice Control
Why doesn't the City plow all the streets in Vancouver?
Experience has shown that, with the types of winter storms we get in Vancouver, it is not productive to plow residential streets. We are usually in a thaw situation long before plowing of residential streets is completed.
Why don't you remove the snow that you plow?
We've tried this in the past (generally in the downtown area). Again, our experience has been that the winter storms change to rain before snow removal is necessary
Why does the City use salt?
Vancouver has used salt for many years. We have found it to be the most economical alternative. Also, salt is not as damaging to our road and sewer systems as sand.
When you plow, the blades don't take all the snow off the road. Why?
It's a safety issue, to protect the drivers and the trucks. Our streets have numerous manhole lids in them. Hitting one of these with a plow blade, even at slow speeds, could cause serious injury. So we set the plows 3/4 inch above the road surface.
Helpful Hints
Please clear sidewalks adjacent to your property as soon as the storm is over.
If the storm is over, the City has plowed, and snow begins to melt, please clear around the catch basin in the gutter fronting your property. This will help the meltwater runoff into the storm sewer system, and reduce flooding problems.
If your car is on a major street, move it (if possible) to a side street. This will help City staff to plow major arterial streets more effectively.
If a street is blocked off with barricades, leave them in place. Do not try to drive on that street.
How to get more information, or submit complaints
Call the City's Engineering Services at 604-871-6200. |
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發表於 2008-12-17 08:58
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