All hands on deck: City ramps up snow readiness with flurries in forecast

Snow in Vancouver / Shutterstock

With flurries in the forecast for Vancouver this weekend, the city apparently isn’t taking any chances when it comes to getting ready for the white stuff.

Late on Friday afternoon, the city said that with freezing temperatures continuing and Environment Canada forecasting rain or snow, crews have been brining and salting roads throughout the week.

“Should conditions worsen over the weekend, we will activate our Departmental Operations Center,” they added.

“At the city, we operate 24 hours a day,” said Jerry Dobrovolny, the city’s GM of engineering services. “When it snows, our priority is ensuring main arterials and bus routes are kept clear, to keep streets safe for all users.”

In a release, the city said it works with a meteorologist “for tailored Vancouver-specific weather predictions.”

And when it comes to snow, there is a “comprehensive snow response plan” built into operational procedures.

“When snow or freezing temperatures are predicted, the city ensures that arterial streets are salted, brined, or plowed depending on the conditions,” the city said.

In 2017, the city also expanded coverage locations, increased salt availability, and developed a three-tiered service response time system. As such, its priority locations for snow and ice removal are:

Major roads
Bus routes
Bridges
Emergency access routes (including five major hospitals and two health care facilities)
School routes
15 most-used bike routes
Sidewalks around schools and hospitals
Bus stops
Arterial corner ramps

The city said it also works closely with Vancouver Park Board to ensure their operations teams are coordinated and supported.

“This year, many of our John Deere mowers will be equipped with snow brushes and salt spreaders so our staff can easily remove snow from sidewalks, paths, the seawall, and parking lots,” said Director of Parks, Howard Normann.

“We’re committed to clearing snow and ice in a timely manner with a focus on priority areas such as community centres and destination parks.”

Dealing with winter yourself

While the city is preparing its winter battle plan, it also provided a list of tips and tricks to help residents avoid issues and/or deal with problems quicker once the snow starts flying.

Some of these include:

Be prepared: Make sure you have shovels, snow boots, snow tires, and salt before the first big snowfall.
Knowing your obligations: All property owners and occupants must clear snow and ice from sidewalks around their property by 10 am the morning after a snowfall, seven days a week. Failure to remove snow and ice may result in fines.
Getting winter tires: If you drive through the winter, consider getting tires with the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol or the mud and snow symbol, with at least 3.5 mm tread. The Province of BC requires these tires on provincial highways.
Moving your car: City crews plow major roads and bus routes. By moving your car to a side street or garage when snow is predicted or after it snows, city crews can better clear arterials for all users.
Avoiding driving if you can: Check transit schedules for commuting alternatives.

Good luck out there!

Dealing with winter yourself

See also