Even though the hockey season already started, it’s not yet snowing season in Edmonton. But the City just announced an updated snow and ice control program, mainly for snow clearing and parking bans.
“This year we’ve been proactive and structuring our teams so that everybody has a primary snow and ice clearing responsibility,” said Mark Beare, the Infrastructure Operations Director for the City of Edmonton.
The weather is not yet frightful but the City of Edmonton has laid out plans to address the upcoming winter season. The city allocated $66 million for a snow and ice control program which is just a bit more more than last year’s budget of approximately 64 million dollars.
“This year we’ve been proactive and structuring our teams so that everybody has a primary snow and ice clearing responsibility and a secondary redeployment activity,” said Beare.
What gets cleared first has been a point of contention for the City after every snowfall. This year, crews promise it’s going to be major road and bike paths on the first day of snowfall.
“For this year, using clearing data, we have adjusted the timeframes so that the priority levels are more visible on the street,” said Valerie Dacyk, with Infrastructure Field Operations of the City of Edmonton.
Parking bans will be enforced with a $250 ticket. Not clearing your sidewalk could result in a $100 fine.
According to Holstead, the City issued approximately 700 tickets last year and the warning had already been placed with signs during the winter season.
“That said officers are reasonable in their approach if there’s a citizen clearly or the owner of that vehicle. An opportunity will be given to move the vehicle, but by standard, there’s no warning process,” said Holstead.
And while the City is preparing for the inevitable winter season and possible snow on Monday, are Edmontonians ready for the snow and are they prepared for it?
“I think I’m ready for fall still … I don’t think I’m ready to drive in the snow and all the cold.”