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Snow Clearance Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about the Town of Newmarket's snow clearance services? Check out the frequently asked questions list below, contact us at 905-895-5193 or e-mail customerservice@newmarket.ca- How much ploughing and snow removal is required?
- Does it help to know about an upcoming storm?
- Which streets are the first to be ploughed?
- Why does it seem to take a long time for other streets to be cleaned?
- Why are cul-de-sac streets cleared last?
- What do I do if my street was missed?
- Who determines the street clearing schedule?
- How long does snow clearance usually take?
- What equipment is used and under what circumstances?
- How do ploughs get around moving and parked cars?
- When are salt and sand used?
- What happens during a routine snowfall?
- What happens during other snowfall situations?
- Why are some streets left with more snow than others?
- Why do ploughs push snow into driveways?
- What do I do if a Town plough damages my property?
- Who removes snow from sidewalks?
- Does the Town clear walkways?
- Who clears snow from bus stops and mail boxes?
- I am unable to clear snow from my property due to age or disability. What do I do?
- What locations are not part of the Town's snow clearance services?
Winter maintenance crews are responsible for clearing 250 kilometres for sand and salting operations and 520 kilometres for ploughing operations. Made up of Town-owned and contracted equipment, the Town's fleet includes ten ploughs complete with sand and salt units and eight sidewalk plough.
Does it help to know about an upcoming storm?Yes. Awareness of winter storms on the way and possible types of precipitation helps us prepare for the job ahead. Operations staff receive a detailed weather forecast every six hours. During a storm advisory situation, forecasts are updated more frequently. Staff also monitor radar images of the Newmarket area posted on Environment Canada's website.
Which streets are the first to be ploughed?The Town is divided into ten routes. Each route is made up of streets categorized as either priority streets or other streets, with priority streets cleared first.
Priority roads are arterial roads or secondary collector roads that carry the highest volumes of traffic. These roads are used to access business areas or the hospital and are used to get in and out of Newmarket. Bus routes are also considered priority roads. Other roads are primarily residential or secondary routes. These are systematically ploughed after the priority routes have been completed.
Why does it seem to take a long time for other streets to be cleaned?Some snowstorms last many hours or have initial freezing rain that turns into snow. In these conditions, a reploughing of priority streets may be required to maintain traffic safety. Reploughing may occur before road crews can move on to other local streets.
Why are cul-de-sac streets cleared last?Due to varied shapes, sizes and presence of centre islands, cul-de-sacs and wide elbows require specialized snow removal equipment and procedures. Most are serviced on a single shift after priority and other roads have been ploughed. The Town's road system currently contains more than 155 cul-de-sacs and 125 wide elbows. The Town understands the frustration that can occur for affected residents. We continually review the snow removal process in an effort to be more efficient and reduce delays that occur in clearing snow in cul-de-sac and wide elbow areas.
What do I do if my street was missed?Although crews are very conscientious in following route schedules, sometimes streets may be missed. Please report any oversights by contacting the Town of Newmarket's Customer Service Centre at 905-895-5193. The crew will be notified and arrangements made to have the street cleared as soon as possible.
Who determines the street clearing schedule?Weather conditions determine how quickly the streets can be cleared. Snow clearing schedules may change within minutes due to winter weather system and temperature variances. Everyone's safety is considered when storms hit. Staff must assess several variables and quality standards for clearing snow when determining schedules.
How long does snow clearance usually take? Most routes are completed within a 12 hour period. Clearance time may be longer when snowfall is exceptionally heavy, there are complications due to freezing rain, many cars are parked on the street, or crews are working during peak traffic times. In accordance with Ministry of Labour regulations, drivers cannot work for more than 13 hours without a rest period. This can impact snow clearance time.What equipment is used and under what circumstances?
Sanding and salting vehicles are generally used to control winter road conditions. It is important to prevent snow or ice from bonding with the road surface. Therefore, salting vehicles work on main streets regularly during inclement weather.
Ploughs are sent into action when snow or slush reaches 50 millimetres (two inches). The crews endeavour to keep major routes as bare as possible. Ploughs are generally used prior to sand and salt applications.
Care and experience are necessary to safely manoeuvre plough units through traffic and around parked vehicles. Snow removal efficiency is at a maximum when streets have little or no traffic and are clear of parked cars. This explains why snow removal is mainly done in the evening and overnight. With reduced traffic volumes and a bylaw that restricts parking on Town streets between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., plough operators can work on getting priority streets ready for morning rush hour. Following completion of priority streets, work crews tackle other streets throughout the morning.
Parking bylaw:Residents are reminded that it is strictly prohibited to park a vehicle on any roadway:
- in front of, or within two feet of a driveway or laneway;
- for more than three consecutive hours except between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
- that interferes with the clearing of snow
- between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. from November 1 to April 15.
The mixture used on the Town streets is 50% sand and 50% salt. Spreading rates are electronical controlled by operator in truck.
The Town of Newmarket uses modern technology in the application of this material and keeps up-to-date on new developments. Sand/Salt reducing measures are implemented as appropriate. Staff regularly examine information on alternative de-icing and anti-icing technologies. Our goal is to be proactive in reducing the amount of salt while recognizing that the safety of Town streets during slippery conditions cannot be jeopardized.
What happens during a routine snowfall?Depending on when snow stops and snow volume, a scenario at night would occur as follows:
- Street ploughs leave the works yard when required and clear priority streets.
- Next, ploughs head to local streets.
- Sidewalk snow ploughs start at about 4 a.m. and follow the same route system as the street ploughs.
- Later in the day other equipment arrives to clear snow from remaining cul-de-sacs.
When this schedule example applies, driving is fairly normal on Town priority streets for the morning rush hour and on many local streets.
What happens during other snowfall situations?Daytime snowfalls, snowstorms and windy conditions pose unique challenges. In some situations, we may have to plough streets during day and rush hour periods. Priority streets may be plowed more than once before we can get to local streets. There are times during a lengthy snowstorm when we must pull crews off the streets to allow them the required rest period. These situations are frustrating, but only occur a few times during most winter seasons.
Why are some streets left with more snow than others?The sand/salt mixture applied to the streets combined with high traffic volume produces bare pavement quickly. Streets that receive less vehicular traffic are more likely to retain some snow covering.
Why do ploughs push snow into driveways?Snow must be ploughed to the side of the street during clearing. The Town understands that this unavoidable situation can be frustrating.
To ensure adequate road width, crews must plough as close to the curb as possible. Crews may also need to pass over a street more than once during a snowfall. During quick thaw situations, multiple passing ensures proper water drainage and helps us avoid heavy road flooding. At other times, snow is pushed back to prevent hardened snow that becomes impossible to move later.
What do I do if a Town plough damages my property?Unfortunately, damage occurs on occasion. Snow plough operators face many challenges including limited lighting and poor visibility, pedestrians, parked cars and slippery conditions. Sometimes these factors can cause tearing of lawn areas on Town property that fronts private property.
If your lawn is damaged by a sidewalk plough please contact the Town of Newmarket's Customer Service Centre at 905-895-5193. A staff member will take your name and address for spring restoration work. Repairs are undertaken on a route basis using topsoil and sod. The repair process starts in mid-April and may last until late May. The lawn repair schedule varies depending on the severity of the winter and other weather-related damage that may occur including watermain breaks.
The Town clears sidewalks on arterial, primary and minor collector roads and certain local roads where schools, Town parks and facilities exist. The Town provides sidewalk snow removal when the maximum new fallen or wind blown snow accumulated on the sidewalk surface is 50 millimetres (2 inches) in any one area. Unless an exception is granted, the policy applies to assumed roads only. For subdivisions that are not assumed, the property owner is responsible for maintainance of sidewalks fronting their property. When the amount of snow is great enough that ploughing is not effective, crews use blower attachments, a method that takes longer and is more expensive.
Property owners remain responsible for removing snow fronting their property within 24 hours of the end of a snowfall in accordance with Town bylaws. Sidewalks on local roads are generally not maintained by the Town during the winter and remain the responsibility of the property owner.
To help crews provide the best possible winter sidewalk maintenance, Town bylaws also prohibit parking over sidewalks.
Does the Town clear walkways?The Town clears snow from paved and concrete walkways that go from one street to another or that go into parks and facilities. Walkways are cleared of snow immediately upon satisfactory completion of sidewalks.
Who clears snow from bus stops and mail boxes?The Region of York provides transit and snow clearing service at bus stops. If you have any concerns, please contact York Region Transit at 1-866-668-3978. Canada Post can reached at 1-800-267-1177 with questions about snow removal around their mail boxes.
I am unable to clear snow from my property due to age or disability. What do I do?If seniors or individuals with disabilities wish to pay for snow removal assistance, the Town of Newmarket can assist by providing telephone numbers for snow removal and referral services. Call 905-895-5193 or e-mail customerservice@newmarket.ca for information.
What locations are not part of the Town's snow clearance services?The following locations are not part of the Town's snow removal services:
- Unpaved park walkways and paths: Some walkways have signs indicating that they are not maintained in the winter and suggesting use of alternative routes.
- Some new subdivision streets and sidewalks: The subdivision developer takes responsibility for winter maintenance and should be contacted directly regarding service issues. Please note that developers may contract ploughing services from the Town.
- Private walks, driveways and roads: These areas are the responsibility of the property owner. Owners of townhouse complexes, plazas and other private areas must keep any internal roads clear of snow and ice.
