On-street parking in Coquitlam neighbourhoods at higher elevations could soon be prohibited during winter weather events.
According to a staff report, plows are unable to completely clear streets when they are lined with cars, creating banks of snow that make it difficult for drivers to safely navigate the road.
“Every subsequent pass of a snowplow truck causes the passable area of the street to become narrower until the streets are down to single lane traffic,” said the report. “This occurs quite quickly in [snow] events, making travel on these streets increasingly difficult.”
Compounding the problem, many residents dump the snow from their driveways onto the unplowed areas, creating sightline hazards, said the report.
A pilot program approved by council last week would prohibit on-street parking anytime snow is in the forecast in certain neighbourhoods above 250 m in elevation.
According to the staff report, there were nine significant snow falls between Feb. 3 and March 7, some lasting several days. At higher elevations, cold weather prevented the snow from melting, leading to accumulations of up to 47 cm in places like Westwood Plateau.
Under the pilot program, “residents would be required to park in their driveways during activation of the restrictions, which would be relaxed after the weather event has ended and the roads are clear,” staff said.
The city will inform residents of the restrictions on message boards placed at the entrances of certain neighbourhoods, on the city’s website, through email and over various social media platforms.
The engineering and public works department is also asking for more money to beef up its snow removal operations.
So far in 2019, the city has spent $1.6 million, exceeding the $1 million budgeted for ice control and snow clearing. Staff expect more money will be required before the year is out. As a result, council approved a transfer of $1 million from the city’s infrastructure reserve fund to the extreme weather control reserve.
Because this is the third year in a row that staff have exceeded their snow removal budget, the report said a request to increase funding would likely be sent to council as part of the 2020 financial plan.
With 55 new lane-kilometres added to the city’s road network since 2008, public works is also considering adding to its plow fleet.
There are currently four vehicles at the city’s disposal but one is nearing its end of life. Staff said they would like the city to buy a fifth truck and keep the older vehicle to supplement snow clearing operations during major winter weather events.
