Driveway Snow Windrow Removal: Review and Update

1. Driveway Snow Windrow RemovalDepartment of Public Works and ServicesSurface Operations Branch Transportation Committee February 15, 2006

2. Agenda • Review of 2003 report • City of Ottawa – Current Service Levels and Winter Climate Metrics • Update to current situation • Other municipalities • Equipment • Private Sector Capacity • Weather • Brief Photo Tour • Summary and Possible Next Steps

3. 2003 Report Summary • Other Cities • Cities that did provide service all from southern Ontario • Most of these cities also transferred the burden of residential sidewalk snow clearing to residents • Snow-Gate Pilot • Ploughing speed reduced by half • Parked cars blocked access by grader • When the grader could manoeuvre to the driveway, the device could not cradle new snow up and over existing snow bank especially in newer developments • Windrows from sidewalk ploughs not cleared • Device dismissed as a solution

4. 2003 Report Summary • Weather • Ottawa twice as much snow as Toronto (part of the amalgamated Toronto provides windrow service) • Ottawa significantly colder than Toronto area • Estimated 2003 Cost - $21M • Estimated 215,000 driveways in the City of Ottawa • 200 residential plough beats city-wide • 4 front-end loaders per plough beat for 2 hour gap maximum (assumes unlimited availability) • 10 plough runs per winter • 1 hour per day stand-by

5. Current Service Levels • Residential Streets = 10 hours • Residential Sidewalks = 12 to 16 hours Winter Climate Metrics • Average Annual Snow = 235 cm • Days with > than 20 cm on ground = 51.7 (An indication of how harsh or moderate the climate)

6. Update - Other MunicipalitiesService Level Options • Municipality clears ALL driveway windrows • Municipality clears windrows from driveways for seniors and those with disability a) Tax supported city-wide; service provided to seniors and those with disability only b) Service provided to seniors and those with disability based upon full cost user pay system • Municipality provides seniors and those with disability with financial assistance a) Subsidy to seniors/disabled (flat rate or apply for subsidy based upon actual costs) b) Snow Go Concept – City provides funding to Agency(s) from tax base for supply and delivery of service • Municipality does not provide any form of windrow clearing

7. Update - Other Municipalities Cont’d • Municipality clears ALL driveway windrows • Oromocto (snow-gate) population 8,800 Avg. snow 252 cm; days with >20 cm = 55.9 City responsible for sidewalk clearing • Vaughan (front-end loaders) population 178,000 Avg. snow 115 cm; days with >20 cm = 5 City responsible for sidewalk clearing. Roads plowed and windrows cleared within 24 hours • Winnipeg (front-end loaders) population 620,000 Avg. snow 111 cm; days with > 20 cm = 40.8 City responsible for sidewalk clearing. Roadway plowing/windrow removal takes 4 days • Regina (snow-gate) population 182,000 Avg. snow 106 cm; days with > 20 cm = 36.2 Residents responsible for sidewalk clearing (no by-law). 60 hours for residential roadway ploughing

8. Update - Other Municipalities Cont’d • Municipality clears windrows from driveways for seniors and those with disability. • Richmond Hill (within 48 hrs) pop 130,000 Avg. snow 157 cm; days with >20 cm = 6.2 City responsible for sidewalk clearing • Oshawa (begins next day) pop. 139,000 Avg. snow 118 cm; days with >20 cm = 4.7 Residents responsible for sidewalk clearing • Whitby (up to 30 hours) population 87,000 Avg. snow 118 cm; days with > 20 cm = 4.7 Residents responsible for sidewalk clearing • Oakville ($80/driveway) – pop. 145,000 Avg. snow 133 cm; days with > 20 cm = 6.2 Residents responsible for sidewalk clearing Note: Costs of programs not yet available

9. Update - Other Municipalities Cont’d • Municipality provides seniors and those with a disability with financial assistance. • Markham ($60/driveway) - population 209,000 Avg. snow 133 cm; days with >20 cm = 6.2 Residents responsible for sidewalk clearing if less than 7.5 cm • Brampton (up to $150) - pop. 325,000 Avg. snow 133 cm; days with >20 cm = 6.2 Residents responsible for sidewalk clearing Reimbursed based on residents actual costs • Hamilton (assist in volunteer co-ord.) - pop 490,000 Avg. snow 162 cm; days with > 20 cm= 10.3 Residents responsible for sidewalk clearing. Similar to Snow Go concept

10. Update - Other Municipalities Cont’d • Municipality does not provide any form of snow windrow clearing service. • Kitchener/Waterloo - population 227,000 Avg. snow 160 cm; days with >20 cm = 17.9 Residents responsible for sidewalk clearing. • London - population 337,000 Avg. snow 202 cm; days with >20 cm = 15.9 City clears snow from sidewalks • Edmonton - population 666,000 Avg. snow 124 cm; days with > 20 cm = 41.7 Residents responsible for sidewalk clearing • Fredericton - population 81,000 Avg. snow 227 cm; days with > 20 cm = 55.9 City clears snow from sidewalks

11. Update - Equipment • No new advances in snow-gate technology • Snow-gate technology does not address windrow left by sidewalk ploughing operations • Municipalities that do clear windrows from driveways (either as a city-wide service or for seniors and those with a disability) mostly utilise equipment with buckets • Damage to driveway concrete tapers and driveway asphalt are a concern using bucket equipment

12. Update – Private Sector Capacity • Previous $21 M a theoretical calculation for city-wide 1-2 hour service window with “unlimited” bucket equipment • Current situation indicates that the private contractor community, currently does not have the capacity to meet city tender requirements for graders or bucket equipment • Implementing a city-wide service would involve dialogue with the contractor community and a multi-year commitment to build capacity and ensure equipment availability

13. Update – Weather Conditions • Weather variability will continue to increase • Ottawa is getting warmer and will experience more precipitation • Increased number of accumulative small events • Increased freeze/thaw cycles with accompanying moisture • Average conditions are no longer average • The freezing rain belt is moving to the north • Expect prolong periods of freezing rain • High intensity rain events are becoming more frequent • Drought conditions are on the rise

14. Update – Weather Conditions • Weather variability is impacting winter operations. In order to remain within reach of centre-bare conditions on residential streets staff are required to: • Plough residential streets more frequently • Use salt on residential streets when warranted • Increase snow haulage and removal

15. Typical Snow Grader

16. Snow Gate Device

17. Woodroffe & Iris Area

18. Centrepointe Area

19. Centertown Area

20. Holland & Scott Area

21. Sandy Hill Area

22. Summary No new Equipment Advances that can address Driveway Snow Windrows Findings of Snow Gate Pilot are still valid Other Cities have options that can address this issue 4 Service Level Options Exist: • Municipality clears ALL driveway windrows • Municipality clears windrows from driveways for seniors and those with disabilitya) Tax supported city-wide; service provided to seniors and those with disability onlyb) Service provided to seniors and those with disability based upon full cost user pay system • Municipality provides seniors and those with disability with financial assistancea) Subsidy to seniors/disabled (flat rate or apply for subsidy based upon actual costs)b) Snow Go Concept – City provides funding to Agency(s) from tax base for supply and delivery of service • Municipality does not provide any form of windrow clearing Should Transportation Committee choose to alter current service levels the department would recommend option 3 or 4 for 2007 / 2008 implementation

23. Next Steps Required to Implement Service Level Option 3 • Build program frame work including eligibility criteria, service providers, etc. • Establish costing • Liaise with Agencies • Report back to Transportation Committee with details

24. Questions? Thank you