Snow Go Program and Snow Go Assist Pilot Program

When and how we clear the way for you

• What to expect during a storm
• What standards for road and sidewalk/pathway maintenance mean to you…
• Salt and other snow and ice control technologies
• Snow Removal

What to expect during a storm

Minimum depth of snow accumulation for deployment of resources		Time to clear snow accumulation from the end of snow accumulation or Time to treat icy conditions
As accumulation begins	Hwy 174, Transitway, most arterials and most major collector roads	2 to 4 hours
2.5 cm	Most sidewalks in downtown core	4 hours
5 cm	Most minor collector roads	6 hours
5 cm	Most primary sidewalks	12 hours
5 cm	Most residential sidewalks	16 hours
7 cm	Most residential roads	10 hours
10 cm	Most lanes	16 hours
Clean up	Most intersections and pedestrian crossings Most Bus stops	16 hours 24 hours
As per Maintenance Quality Standards - Roads and Sidewalks/Pathways for the City of Ottawa.

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What Maintenance Quality Standards for roads and sidewalks/pathways mean to you…

• The maintenance quality standards for the City's roads, sidewalks and pathways ensure a consistent level of service is provided citywide to all residents.
• Roads, sidewalks and pathways with similar characteristics and function are grouped together in classes. These classes are then used to prioritize the delivery of maintenance, including the frequency of snow plowing, ice control and snow removal.
• 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 snowfall of 7 cm or more forecast by Environment Canada, winter overnight parking restrictions go into effect.
• When there is a snow accumulation of 7 cm or more, city crews will plow residential roads to a snow packed surface. When necessary, de-icing materials will be applied to keep roads safe. City crews will not plow residential roads every time there is a snowfall.
• City crews aim to cleanup residential roads within 10 hours from the end of snow accumulation.
• Many residential streets will remain snow packed throughout the winter.
• City crews aim to clean up bus stops within 24 hours from the end of snow accumulation.
• If snow removal is necessary, crews will begin removal after the snowfall ends.
• Snow removal may be scheduled for your street. Please watch for temporary on-street "no parking" snow removal signs.
• On-street snow storage space will be used to the maximum. Crews will cast snow on to the boulevard area where storage capacity permits.

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Salt and other snow and ice control technologies

As part of snow and ice control operations, the City applies dry salt, wet salt, 50/50 sand salt mix, sodium chloride brine, calcium chloride brine and abrasive materials on our streets. 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.

Salt

Salt is our first defence against a winter storm. Salt is spread early during a snowstorm on a priority basis to make a brine solution.

Other snow and ice control technologies

In addition to dry rock salt, the following methods are also used to effectively manage snow and ice accumulation:

• 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. 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.

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Snow removal

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.

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.

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 more cost effective than snow removal and haulage as they involve moving the snow bank from its current location to available adjacent boulevard, City lands or the roadway.

• Casting: When onsite snow storage capacity is available, front-end loaders and/or snow blowers will relocate snow banks onto adjacent boulevards and City lands.
• Winging back: When onsite snow storage capacity is available, snow plows (trucks, graders, and/or loaders) will cut the top of the snow bank and push the snow from the roadway onto adjacent boulevards.
• Pulling onto the roadway: Snow banks are spread onto the traveled portion of the road in order to accelerate snow melting. During mild weather conditions, snow is pulled onto high volume roads with a posted speed limit less than or equal to 60 km/hr, where it is foreseen that the combination of traffic flow and ambient heat is sufficient to melt the snow by 4 p.m. on the same day.
• Snow removal and haulage: Snow removal and haulage is only done when the other three options listed above are unavailable. The snow is loaded onto trucks and hauled to City snow disposal facilities.

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