Council to consider sidewalk snow-clearing cost study

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/04/14/council-to-conside...

FOLLOWING repeated complaints that snow isn’t cleared off sidewalks quickly enough, the city may study an option to speed up the service.

An annual snow-clearing report could be tasked with determining a cost estimate to clear snow off all sidewalks and active transportation paths within 72 hours after a significant snowfall. That measure would be reached when an inspection finds clearing is needed following a five-centimetre snowfall or equivalent drifting.

A motion passed by public works committee this week calls for that element to be explored in the report, though the change requires a full council vote.

“I think it’s important that people understand the cost and the requirements (to ramp up service this much). Dozens of machines would have to be purchased, dozens of staff would have to be hired,” said Coun. Janice Lukes, the committee’s chairwoman.

The motion, raised by Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt, also calls for the city to study how the increased service level could be phased in. Wyatt’s motion states the current frequency of clearing sometimes forces pedestrians to walk on roads and suggests the proposed change would improve quality of life.

Under city policy, plowing on all sidewalks on major routes and collector streets should be completed within 36 hours after an average storm ends. Sidewalks on residential streets should see plowing completed within five working days after it begins.

Lukes (Waverley West) said she expects continuing to clear sidewalks by priority may better fit the city’s budget.

“(It) would be better for the taxpayer to realign the priority system versus making everything a (top priority for clearing). I think we need to do a better analysis on where high density is, where high needs are,” said Lukes.

Council will vote on the matter later this month. The annual snow-clearing report is expected in June.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga