We may have just entered the rainy season, but the City of Port Moody is hoping its snow season will go smoother than past winters.
Following a town hall meeting on snow and ice removal called last February by Mayor Meghan Lahti to find ways to improve the city's response to snow events, some new rules, procedures and equipment have been put in place for its maintenance plan for the coming winter.
Port Moody council will determine whether to endorse the improvements at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 24.
The changes include new winter parking restrictions on four streets to help snowplows get safe access, including:
- Sycamore Drive
- April Road
- View Street
- Burrard Crescent
No parking will be allowed on these streets from Dec. 1 to March 15.
As well, $450,000 from the city's share of the provincial growing communities fund has been set aside for new equipment like the replacement of a leased one-ton pickup truck that can be equipped with a plow for use on multi-use paths and plowing and sanding along lower priority roads.
An additional side-by-side utility terrain vehicle equipped with plow, sander, snow blower and brine applicator is expected to be ready for service by the time the snow flies.
The city is also building its own brine making facility at the public works yard.
Additional staff resources will also be deployed to enforce the city's rules for cleaning sidewalks and boulevards and the continuation of the Snow Stars volunteer shovelling program is being recommended.
During a snow or ice event, Port Moody prioritizes its roads to determine when they will be plowed.
- Priority 1 routes get plowed first. They are major arterial routes that facilitate movement across the city, as well as roads that connect with regional roads and highways and those that provide access to schools
- Priority 2 routes are plowed to a passable condition after priority 1 routes have been cleared. They include collector and local connector roads that are typically longer than 200 meters and roads that provide access to critical water and sewer infrastructure
- Priority 3 routes are local neighbourhood roads. They get attention once priority 1 and 2 routes have been cleared
Pedestrian routes that include sidewalks, crosswalks, medians, multi-use paths, bus stops and cycling paths are also prioritized:
- Priority 1 areas are with 800 metres of the city's two SkyTrain stations
- Priority 2 routes are those further than 800 metres from the stations
Homeowners, stratas and businesses are responsible for clearing the sidewalk in front of their property by 10 a.m., if they’re located on a priority pedestrian route and within 24 hours if they're not.
