Roadways Emergency Response Plan

• Saskatoon received approximately 34 centimetres of snow between December 25 and 28, 2022. This prompted the City to activate a city-wide snow response plan, which includes snow grading and removal, including local streets that are not typically graded.
• The criteria for activating the Roadways Emergency Response Plan (highlights) are:

1. Snow accumulation greater than 25 centimetres and/or a combination of snow, freezing rain and wind; and

2. Mobility is reduced to the point that light vehicles cannot travel on city streets; mobility across the city is severely impacted, and the regular winter maintenance level of service applicable to typical snow events cannot be met.

• Snow grading on neighbourhood local streets was completed between December 30 and January 6; Priority 2 and 3 Streets snow removal took 5 weeks and local street snow removal took 7 weeks. In November and December 2022, there were already 4 snow events, with very little time between snowstorms to remove the snow piles that were stored along priority streets.

City-wide snow removal on local streets will improve sight lines, clear sidewalks and open up on-street parking spaces.

• Snow piles that are causing safety concerns and impacting on-street parking will be removed. Streets will have some snowpack and some non-hazardous snow piles remaining. See illustrations below under "Snow piles that will be removed".
• The current and upcoming neighbourhoods slated for snow removal will be posted on the City’s website.
• Residents will know when crews are coming to their neighbourhood when they see ‘No Parking’ signs go up along their street with the estimated start date for planned work. Parking restrictions remain in effect daily from 7 am to 7 pm until the work is done and the signs are removed.
• If crews haven’t completed the snow removal and signs remain, residents can return to park overnight from 7 pm to 7 am. Please double-check the start time posted on the sign, as snow removal happens at night on priority streets.
• This work is expected to take 6 to 8 weeks to complete, which will be more accurately estimated once all crews are in place and work is in progress.
• We ask that residents keep snow from driveways and sidewalks on their property, as extra snow on the street creates accessibility and safety issues for you and your neighbours and makes more work for the equipment operators. This is also illegal as per Bylaw 8463 - Sidewalk Clearing Bylaw.

• Residents will know when it’s their turn when yellow paper “No Parking” signs are posted on their street with an estimated start date.

• You can help by keeping vehicles away for 12 hours every day starting 7 am or 7 pm – depending on your signs.

• Parking restrictions starting at 7 am are in effect Monday to Saturday for snow removal on local streets until the work is done, and signs come down.

• Parking restrictions starting at 7 pm are for snow removal on priority streets and in effect 7 days a week, Sunday to Saturday.

• Vehicles will be relocated to a nearby street if parked when crews are ready to start. Check Find My Vehicle! if your vehicle has moved. 

City-wide snow removal on local streets improves sight lines, clears sidewalks and opens up on-street parking spaces.

What to expect for this snow removal work

• Snow piles that are causing safety concerns and impacting on-street parking will be removed.

  • Snow piles at intersections, crosswalks and park entries will be removed.

  • Snow piles in front of houses will be removed.

  • Large piles of sidewalk snow that were left by snow grading and impede accessibility will be cleared.

  • Snow piled in the centre (or bulb) of cul-de-sacs will be removed.

  • Large snow piles on streets or boulevards that are blocking access to fire hydrants, community mailboxes and utility boxes will be removed.

• Large ruts and areas of roughness will be removed from driving lanes.

• Streets will have some snowpack and some non-hazardous snow piles remaining.

• Snow piles on local streets that are not impacting drivability or on-street parking in front of houses may remain in place for the duration of the winter.

  • Snow piles that are less intrusive and not directly in front of homes will remain.

  • Snow located on boulevards and medians, along vacant lots or parks and along the flankage (i.e. sides) of lots will remain.

  • Snow piles along parks and vacant lots will remain.

• Any snow piles or ridges purposefully left in place will be trimmed to avoid encroachment into driving lanes, crosswalks or sidewalks.

• Snow piles left in place will also be trimmed back 5 m from corners and 2 m from back lane entrances.

Illustrations for snow removal on local streets

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• Place your black and blue carts out for collection on the scheduled day -- even if there are parking restrictions in place for snow removal.
  
  • Place your cart in front or 4 feet to the side of all snowbanks (not on top or behind)
  • In a cul-de-sac, place carts all in one area, either in front of or beside the snow pile, facing in the same direction.
• The snow removal crew will relocate any carts from the street to the residents' property during snow removal work is occurring and put them back once the removal is complete.  The carts should only be inaccessible to the collections crews for a few hours.
• The collections truck will return to any blocks that were missed due to snow removal later in the day.
• If you placed your cart correctly and on time, but it still wasn't collected, please call 306-975-2486 for garbage or 306-242-2300 for recycling.
• Carts should be place in accordance with the guidelines for Cart Care.

Cart Placement Illustrations

Snow removal is split into a four-step process in the Roadways Emergency Response Plan for major snowstorms. Snow removal only begins once public safety and mobility are restored across the city through city-wide grading. The priority sequence for snow removal recommended in the plan is School Zones, Business Improvement Districts, Priority Streets with residential Local Streets last as they have the lowest traffic volumes.

Steps 1-3 School Zone, BID & Priority Street Snow Removal

· Snow removal work got started in business areas earlier than laid out in the Roadways Emergency Response Plan, to clear paid on-street parking spaces. We also made an extra effort to complete school zone removal before classes resumed after the holiday break.

· Snow removal on Priority 1 streets was also necessary to start earlier than outlined in the Plan due to the height of the snow piles on boulevards and medians, which were already approaching capacity before this snowstorm. This work happens at night when fewer vehicles are on the street for everyone’s safety.

· Snow removal on Priority 2 streets is expected to begin the week of January 23.

Step 4 – Residential Street Snow Removal (local streets)

· Crews will remove snow piles that are restricting drivability, safety or on-street parking, leaving some piles where possible.

· Temporary parking restrictions will be used to make room for equipment to work and access all snow piles. No Parking signs will be posted a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the scheduled start time.

· If crews haven’t completed the snow removal on the same day as the parking restriction, residents can return to parking overnight from 7 pm to 7 am.

• Saskatoon received approximately 34 centimetres of snow between December 25 and 28, 2022. This prompted the City to activate a city-wide snow response plan, which includes snow grading and removal, including local streets that are not typically graded.

• The criteria for activating the Roadways Emergency Response Plan (highlights) are:

  1. Snow accumulation greater than 25 centimetres and/or a combination of snow, freezing rain and wind; and

  2. Mobility is reduced to the point that light vehicles cannot travel on city streets; mobility across the city is severely impacted, and the regular winter maintenance level of service applicable to typical snow events cannot be met.

• Snow grading on neighbourhood local streets was completed between December 30 and January 6; Priority 2 and 3 Streets snow removal took 5 weeks and local street snow removal took 7 weeks. In November and December 2022, there were already 6 snow events, with very little time between snowstorms to remove the snow piles that were stored along priority streets.