Frequently Asked QuestionsTiming and PriorityWhat is the priority and deployment strategy? SaltingWhy doesn't the City put more salt on residential streets and maintain the local roadways to bare pavement conditions? My StreetWhy does the plow come down my side of the street first and put more snow on my side? General OperationsWhy is there so much noise at night from your operations? Overnight ParkingHow can I find out if there is an overnight winter parking ban in effect? Roadside Ditches and FloodingWhy does the City only clear certain roadside ditches of snow in the spring? Timing and PriorityWhat is the priority and deployment strategy?
Under extreme winter storm conditions (i.e. those that exceed normal conditions), snow and ice control operations will be carried out based on the capacity of resources in as continuous a manner as possible. How long will it take to clear the roads of snow?When a snowstorm begins, City crews focus efforts to clear snow on high priority roads, main arterials and collectors to maintain bare pavement conditions. City crews are deployed to treat icy sidewalks and pathways as they become aware of icy conditions. When there is a snow accumulation of 7 cm or more, city crews will plow residential roads to a snow packed surface. When necessary materials such as rock salt, grit, and grit mix with salt etc. will be applied to keep roads safe. City crews will not plow residential roads every time there is a snowfall. Depending on the magnitude of the snowfall City crews aim to cleanup residential roads within 10 hours from the end of snow accumulation. How is it determined what road or sidewalk is plowed first?The City determines snow and ice removal by following the Council approved guideline called Maintenance Quality Standards for Roads, Sidewalks and Pathways (MQS). The MQS details roads and sidewalk type, classification, deployment at accumulation and time to clear snow and treat icy conditions and identifies treatment standards. The MQS is the basis for prioritizing snow and ice service delivery. Why is it taking so long for the crews to plow my street?Streets are prioritized for the delivery of snow and ice removal service through the Maintenance Quality Standards (MQS). Street classification and level of service dictate within which cycle time the road will be plowed. Generally, a full operation takes approximately eight to10 hours when activated. It can take longer occasionally due to equipment break down, intensity of the storm, vehicle on street parking or the need to return to priority streets. Once snow operations are deployed, their aim is to clear the way for you, efficiently and effectively, while working within approved MQS guidelines. Why does the City not remove snow from bus stops right away?The majority of bus stops are dealt with during the cleanup process. City crews aim to clean up bus stops within 24 hours from the end of snow accumulation. Unfortunately, during heavy storms this time period may have to be extended. The priority for crews is to remove snow on the major roads and the Transitway so that the buses can operate. At what point do snow removal crews move into action?As accumulation begins, crews are deployed and start working on high priority roads such as Highway 174 (split east to Canaan Road), the transitway, arterials and major collector roads. Highway 417 (Queensway) is a provincial responsibility. Once the snow accumulates beyond 2.5 cm, sidewalks in the downtown area are plowed. Beyond 5 cm of snow means crews begin to tackle the rest of the city, as outlined in the Council Approved Standards (See “Priority and Deployment Strategy”). Does Council give direction to when and how crews deal with snow clearing?Yes, Council has set the priorities for winter operations through the approval of the Maintenance Quality Standards. Based on these standards City crews work diligently and professionally to ensure the safety and accessibility of the transportation network. The Maintenance Quality Standards recognizes that: “Under extreme winter storm conditions (i.e. those that exceed normal conditions), snow and ice control operations will be carried out based on the capacity of resources in as continuous a manner as practicable”. Maintenance Quality StandardsSaltingWhy doesn't the City put more salt on residential streets and maintain the local roadways to bare pavement conditions?Residential and local streets generally generate low volume of traffic and, as such, the City cannot justify the high costs associated with salt applications required to obtain bare pavement conditions. Traffic is also required to enable the salt to work effectively. At this time the MQS identifies “residential” streets as maintained at “snow packed” and most “local” roadways at “centre bare”. Additionally, the City is continually trying to balance the cost of safety with minimizing the impact on the environment. Why is the City salting roads when it is not snowing?Pro-active salting (brine) is used before, or at the beginning of a winter precipitation event. The anti-icing solution (applied on the Transitway and Highway 417 only) is applied to prevent ice from forming and bonding to the pavement. Safe winter driving conditions in our climate depend on the effective use of de-icing materials and other snow and ice control operations to address frost and black ice, light snow, heavy snow and freezing rain conditions. My StreetWhy does the plow come down my side of the street first and put more snow on my side?Every effort is made to distribute snow on both sides of the roadway. However, the first pass with the plow picks up more snow than the second pass, resulting in more snow on one side. Operation planners plan routes for the equipment operators to help them do their job effectively and efficiently. Many variables are taken into account when planning routes such as snow storage, start and finish of route, transit lanes/drop-offs, etc. After the plow goes by my residence, my driveway gets longer. Why?As winter progresses, the width of the snow banks sometimes encroach further onto the roadway. Snow banks are pushed or blown away when the width of roadway pavement becomes significantly reduced. I live on a cul-de-sac and the plow did not completely clean the paved area. Why?A two stage plowing operation is performed on cul-de-sac: an initial plow opens up the area, then, as part of clean up operations after a storm, remaining snow is pushed either to the centre or the outside of the cul-de-sac depending on storage availability and the preference of the residents to maximize snow storage area. Please discourage children from using these snow piles for recreation purposes, as it can be dangerous. Prioritization for the clean up of these areas is based on the following criteria:
I live on a corner and I always get more snow from your plows than others on my streetPlow operators try as best as possible to equally distribute the snow by plowing the snow away from corner driveway entrances. A street corner typically receives more snow on the side and front yard as two roadways meet generating more snow in a limited area Why is snow blown onto the boulevard in front of my residence?As snow banks become larger and reduce the width of the traveled portion of the roadway, City crews push back, blow or cast snow banks. The snow is generally placed within the boulevard area, which is part of the city's road allowance. This is the most economical and operationally practical method of removing this snow. My neighbour across the street pushes snow onto the roadway or across the road onto my side of the street causing the road to build up with ice. Can something be done to prevent this?The City has a By-law in place to discourage people from placing snow onto the public roadway. When a continuous problem is identified, please contact 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) and By-law Services will be advised. Why did you plow my street twice during the same storm?During a storm that generates large accumulations of snow, repetitive plow operations may be required during big storms to bring the street to satisfactory condition. If the City waits too long to commence plowing operations, you will be restricted in your ability to use the roadway network. What you may also be seeing is a first pass by a grader or dump truck with front plow and a wing plow. This equipment does the major plowing. This is often followed up towards the end of a storm with a sander/salter truck which has a plow used to clear small amount of snow to make sanding/salting more effective. Whenever you plow my street, you block all the driveway entrances. Is there not some way to avoid leaving snow in driveway entrances, or remove it after the plow has passed?We have tested many devices, which claimed that they could keep snow out of driveway entrances when plowing. Unfortunately, none has been found which are both cost efficient and effective. Similarly, there have been trials of having small plows follow behind the big plows to clear out driveways, but this has been found to be both very expensive and very slow. In September 2006, Council approved the Snow Go Assist Pilot Program, which is a new three-year pilot program that will provide a total of $60,000 per year in financial assistance to eligible low-income seniors and people with disabilities to pay for a portion of their snow and ice removal costs. The City of Ottawa’s new Snow Go Program provides a matching service for seniors and people with disabilities looking to hire an individual or contractor to clear snow and ice from private driveways and walkways. Eligible low-income seniors and people with disabilities may also apply to receive financial assistance to pay for a portion of their snow and ice removal costs through the Program. For more information please contact 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or visit Snow Go on ottawa.ca What happens if my mailbox is damaged by the City’s snow clearing equipmentOccasionally roadside mailboxes are damaged or destroyed when hit by the snow plow. Mailboxes that are hit by the snow clearing equipment will be repaired or replaced as determined by the Roads Department Supervisor. Mailboxes damaged by the snow that comes off the wing of the snow plow will not be eligible for repair or replacement. To report a damaged mailbox, please call the City of Ottawa at 3-1-1 The City’s snow operations equipment damaged my lawn. What do I do now?Unfortunately, during winter maintenance operations, City equipment sometimes causes lawn damage. If damage occurs, please let us know by contacting 3-1-1. Crews are deployed early in the spring to investigate and repair appropriate damaged areas by using topsoil and seed. The City is seeking the co-operation of abutting residents to carry out periodic watering (as necessary) until the new seed has properly rooted and become part of the total lawn. Can I install metal markers to define my property line for snow removal purposes?The Use and Care of Roads By-Law no. 2003-498 prohibits the placement of markers on any portion of a highway, including the boulevard. Snow removal equipment may be damaged by the metal markers used by residents to define their property line for snow removal. As well, posting these markers right at the edge of the roadway may cause more snow to be placed in the travelled portion of the roadway and can compromise safety. Homeowners may continue to define their property line by using wooden markers that should be no larger than a hockey stick. General OperationsWhy is there so much noise at night from your operations?Depending on the time of the storm event, the City has no choice but to carry out overnight operations. Night time operations are generally more efficient and ensure road network is ready for morning rush hour. Where does the City of Ottawa put the snow?There are four primary methods of snow bank removal that the City employs: casting, winging back, pulling snow into the roadway and snow removal and haulage. Casting, winging back and pulling snow are the most cost effective it involves moving the snow bank from its current location to the adjacent boulevard, City lands or the roadway. Snow removal and haulage is costly and time consuming. It involves blowing or dumping snow into trucks to haul away to snow disposal facilities
Why do I see graters and snow plows going down my street scraping roads when there isn’t that much snow on the roads?As winter weather conditions fluctuate we try to take advantage of milder temperatures to return residential roads to bare pavement while limiting salt usage. Although the Council approved Maintenance Quality Standards indicate residential roads be maintained at "snow packed" standard, in the early winter, we try and take advantage of the mild overnight temperatures to remove the ruts which have already formed on the snow packed surface. This allows for a better surface to clear in the upcoming winter months. In addition, the clearing operation assists in keeping catch basins open to avoid flooding. If weather permits (mild weather days/nights following storms), we push snow banks back to curbs to provide more driving width on the roadway and storage space for snow along residential streets. In the long term this also helps in reducing the cost of snow removal. Why are snow removal crews working when it is not snowing?Snow removal involves much more than simply plowing roads when there is a storm. Crews must also remove the snow so that it does not impede with regular traffic, transit, pedestrian and cycling access. Removal or reduction of snow banks is carried out when snow banks restrict sightlines, travel widths, pedestrian and cycling traffic or to relieve trapped water on the roadway or sidewalk and to create storage space for future snowfall.
Snow banks restricting sightlines (i.e. safety hazard) at intersections and at pedestrian, school and railway crossings are removed within 24 hours after being made aware of the conditions. In the event that the number of locations exceeds available resources, the locations will be addressed on a priority basis subject to the extent of the hazard. Why does the City strip ice from the roadway late in the winter season and leave large blocks of ice in my driveway?In order to provide adequate runoff of the spring melt, City crews need to locate the painted yellow lines at the centre of the roadway that identify the location of catch basins. Therefore, graders are used to strip the ice that has formed progressively during the season along the centre of the roadway and along the edges where the catch basins are located. This operation can result in blocks of ice inadvertently being placed at the end of your driveway. Unfortunately, the City is not equipped to clear end of driveways. What are other ice and snow removal technologies used by City staff?• Pre-wetting: Rock salt is sprayed with a liquid de-icer as it is spread. This method makes the salt sticky to ensure it adheres to the road and accelerates the ice melting process. Pre-wetting decreases salt usage by 20 per cent • Anti-icing: This pro-active method is used before or at the beginning of a winter precipitation event. The de-icing solution can be made up of pre-wetted salt or a liquid solution (brine). The de-icing solution is applied to roads to prevent ice from forming and bonding to the pavement • Abrasives: Abrasives such as sand and crushed rock are used in colder temperatures when salt is not effective or for roads that have snow-packed treatment standards. Abrasives do not melt snow and ice, they are used to increase traction • Ottawa's Road Weather Information System is a network of weather stations that provide real-time and forecasted weather and road conditions. City staff use this as a decision-aid tool allowing for the timely applications of winter materials for snow and ice control. How can I inform the City of potholes or other road deficiencies?Call 3-1-1 to report potholes or other road or sidewalk deficiencies. Immediate reporting will assist City staff in locating deficiencies and performing repairs. Overnight ParkingHow can I find out if there is an overnight parking ban in effect?Sign up to receive e-mail or Twitter notifications of overnight parking restrictions at ottawa.ca/winterparking. This service is free and you can unsubscribe anytime. Call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401). Listen to local media for special advisories about on-street parking. How do I sign up to receive e-Alerts or Twitter notifications of overnight parking restrictions?For both, start by visiting the web page Ottawa.ca/winterparking. Locate the “Sign Up” box on the right hand side of the screen
How do I receive Twitter notifications on my cell phone?While logged into your Twitter account go to “Settings.” Click on the Tab named “Mobile.” Read the information on the right hand of the screen and entered the required information. Now you don’t need to be near your computer to receive notification of overnight parking restrictions! Why are there temporary no parking signs placed in snow banks?When snow removal is planned, City staff develop a street-by-street schedule for the snow removal operation. City crews place temporary ‘No Parking’ signs along the roadside 12 hours prior to snow removal operation. Vehicles parked where temporary no-parking signs are posted will be ticketed and towed away. When does the overnight parking ban come into affect?Winter overnight parking regulations are in effect throughout the city from November 15 to April 1. This means that residents cannot park on City streets between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. when a snow accumulation of 7 cm or more is forecast by Environment Canada in the Ottawa area. This includes any forecast for a range of snow of more than 7 cm, for example 5 to 10 cm. Vehicles that remain parked on the street during an overnight parking restriction will be ticketed. On-street parking permit holders are exempt from this restriction. These restrictions allow snow removal crews clearer access to streets, creating a faster and more efficient process. Roadside Ditches and FloodingWhy does the City only clear certain roadside ditches of snow in the spring?Roadside ditches are cleared at the outlet end of the ditch system to provide positive drainage for the spring melt. City crews prioritize known critical areas and attempt to minimize the risk of flooding. The clearing operations are not designed to drain all ditches of spring melt water. What is the chance that flooding can occur in the winter?One important issue that snow removal mediates is the potential for flooding. Ottawa can see a dramatic change in climate very quickly. If the temperature rises above zero degrees Celsius in a short time span the possibility exists for flooding because the snow melts rapidly. City crews remove snow and ice from catch basins on roads and sidewalks to ensure melting snow will be able to drain and to alleviate flood like conditions. |
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