City council reviews pilot snow and ice control program

Up to two-to-six-hour response times for traction control for purple and red, and green routes, respectively, compared to 12 hours the previous year,
Five locations of staircase clearing, while none were cleared the previous year,
43 km of neighbourhood asphalt trails cleared after each snowfall,
Inclusion of second side sidewalks (9 km)
Transit stop clearing: 61 high priority cleared in one day, 153 medium priority cleared within three days, an additional 421 supplemental stops cleared within seven days.

Throughout the pilot program, the City connected with the community to get feedback on operations including regular check-ins with the Engaged Citizens Group, two broad public surveys, a transit rider survey and the Citizen Satisfaction Survey.

Overall, citizens felt arterial roadways, hills and bridges were adequately maintained, and were satisfied with the green route plowing operation, with little concern raised about nighttime operations and 24/7 parking bans. Residents reported a prominent level of satisfaction with the additional mobility of trails, sidewalks and staircases, and there was improved public awareness of snow clearing programs.

“While we’ve received positive feedback from the community, we know there is always room for improvement. Our greatest challenges to the snow and ice control program remains the variability of weather, pivoting operations from a plow-based program to a traction control focus and choosing the right time to execute green and grey route plows,” said Manager of Parks and Public Works Greg Sikora.

City Councillor Bruce Buruma addressed that the increased clearing services to transit stops accounted for the largest increase in the proposed budget changes necessary to continue the pilot this winter, questioning the efficiency of that component of the pilot.

Sikora clarified that Red Deer’s 635 stops were designated into one of three priority levels and service was focused on the highest density stops.

In June 2023, council adopted the revised Integrated and Accessible Transportation Policy (IAATP), which focuses on providing the community with mobility services based on four guiding principles: safe, accessible, well-maintained and accountable

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by rdnewsNOW Staff

City council reviews pilot snow and ice control program

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