City of Red Deer announces pilot snow and ice control program

Changes to the overall program will focus on increasing the presence and effectiveness of pre-treating, plowing and sanding equipment on major arterials, hills and bridges before, during and after snowfall.

“To address icy driving conditions and provide greater traction control, we will be more aggressively sanding and salting our major roadways and high-risk spots,” said Sikora.

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.

The City is also launching a public consultation process on residential snow clearing operations. Residents are invited to provide input on the residential program, and how we can better meet the needs of the community throughout the winter. At the end of the program, all responses will be analyzed and summarized in a report. City Council will then review the findings to inform future snow clearing policies and operations. Visit engage.reddeer.ca to learn more.

For more information about the new snow and ice program, visit www.reddeer.ca/snow.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What’s changing this winter?

We are focused on restoring mobility and ensuring accessibility this winter. To improve our residential snow control program, we will be expanding our 24-hour operations to include residential routes. This means when a residential plow campaign is triggered, we will be working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until all residential streets are cleared. This shift will reduce the amount of time it takes to complete residential plowing from approximately 20 calendar days in the past, to just 7 days per route.

2. What is changing related to transit clearing?

This winter, transit stops are being cleared sooner to restore mobility quicker. Priority 1 stops will be cleared within 1 day, Priority 2 by day 3, and Priority 3 by day 7.

3. What is changing related to sidewalk, staircase, neighbourhood & Waskasoo Park trails clearing by The City?

This winter, we are enhancing our trail and sidewalk clearing to restore integrated mobility sooner for pedestrians. Within three days of each snow event, we currently clear nearly 130 kilometres of public sidewalks throughout the city. Additionally, we are expanding to clear an additional 16km of Grey Route sidewalks (also known as second-side sidewalks), 68km of neighbourhood asphalt trails, 35km of Waskasoo Park Trails including several staircases.

To see a full map of where will be clearing, visit: Snow and Ice Control Sidewalk and Trail Clearing Map on reddeer.ca/snow

4. How much is this pilot going to cost The City?

Our annual winter maintenance operating budget is$6.7 million. Through this pilot program, we are looking at our entire operations to fit in the newly adopted Safety Maintenance and Mobility Hierarchies and are analyzing our operations and reporting on our costs this winter to determine our ongoing service commitments.

5. Why is this only a pilot, what’s the plan going forward?

We are making these changes in an effort to be responsive to the community’s mobility needs and feedback we’ve received in previous winters. However, we recognize it will be necessary to make adjustments. Throughout the winter, we will be asking for resident input on how the changes are working, and where additional changes might need to be considered. Following this winter, a revised recommendation and ongoing budget ask will go to City Council for consideration.

6. When will residential plowing begin?

We are focused on restoring mobility and ensuring accessibility this winter. A residential plowing campaign will be triggered when mobility is negatively impacted, with triggering factors including, but not limited to: snowfall, forecast, freeze/thaw cycles and snowpack. In previous years, snowpack was our only trigger, but this year we will be more responsive and flexible so we can restore mobility and improve accessibility sooner. This year, all Green Routes will be completed in advance of a Grey Route plowing campaign.

7. Will there be parking bans?

Yes. When a residential plow campaign is triggered, a parking ban will first happen on all Green Routes, and then on all Grey Routes. The parking ban will be in effect at all hours (including overnight) until a street is completed.

8. How will I know if there’s a parking ban?

When a parking ban is declared, there will be numerous ways to find out. Red a-frame ‘NO PARKING ANYTIME’ signs will be placed on every residential street (both Green and Grey Routes) in advance of plows coming through. These signs will be placed a minimum of 12 hours in advance of plowing, and residents cannot park until the signs have been removed. In addition to watching for signs, we encourage everyone to sign up for Notify Red Deer to get a text reminding you to move your vehicle. Other ways to find out include checking reddeer.ca/snow, following The City on Facebook/Twitter and staying in the know with local media.

9. What if I don’t move my car?

Vehicles left on the street when a parking ban is in effect will be ticketed and towed, including on Grey Routes (previously only Green Routes were signed). Avoid a ticket by moving your vehicle when a parking ban is in effect. Watch for signs on your street.

10. Where can I park during a parking ban?

Parking bans will first happen on all Green Routes, and then, when necessary Grey Routes. During a ban, vehicles must be parked off-street (such as in a driveway, garage, or parking lot) or on an alternately-coloured route until plowing has been completed on your street. Parking bans will be enforced 24 hours a day until the signs have been removed, signaling to residents they can return to on-street parking.

11. I don’t have off-street parking, what do I do then?

As per City Bylaw, every residence is required to have two off-street parking stalls. We encourage you to utilize these spaces. If you have more than two vehicles, you can park on the nearest street that is not signed with NO PARKING ANYTIME. Remembering, that Green or Grey Routes will not be cleared at the same time, and therefore will not have parking bans enforced at the same time.

To find the nearest route, visit reddeer.ca/snow. Alternatively, check with a neighbour to find out if they have an extra space they would be willing to share with you. If you have additional space, be a Snow Buddy and offer your neighbour space to park!

12. How do I know if I live on a Green or Grey Route?

Green and Grey Routes are how we distinguish the two types of residential streets we have in our city.

a. Green Routes are the busier roads in each neighbourhood and consist of collector roads and City Transit routes (streets, drives, etc). They typically have higher traffic volumes and provide access to residential streets. Often Green Routes have a yellow line painted down the centre.

b. Grey Routes are quieter residential streets (closes, crescents, etc) and typically have a lower traffic volume.

c. An address search and route finder is available on reddeer.ca/snow

13. Why do Green Routes have snow removed and Grey Routes are left with windrows?

Restoring mobility and ensuring accessibility are our first priorities. Green Routes have higher traffic volumes and additional uses including Transit, and are plowed with snow removed. On Grey Routes, we plow to a snowpack and place windrows on both sides of the street, with windrows openings to provide access to driveways, alleys, and at pedestrian crossings.

This winter, we will also be removing windrows from portions of Grey Routes in front of higher density (R3 Zone development) where off-street parking maybe limited. Previously Green Routes were always plowed to bare pavement and with this pilot program that may not always be the situation.

14. I have input on how you can do things differently!

Great! We encourage our citizens to get involved and share their perspectives, ideas and input throughout the winter at engage.reddeer.ca.