The wrath of last winter still haunts the City of Edmonton. The melting is still underway at the city’s snow storage yards.
“Needless to say, last winter was one of the worst winters we had in two decades.” Bob Boutilier, GM of Edmonton’s Transportation Services says.
As a result, the city received a blizzard of complaints. That in turn will lead to some changes.
The city is implementing a new seasonal parking ban along bus routes.
To avoid a situation like we saw last winter, drivers will not be allowed to park on the routes between November 15tth and March 15th. Signs will be going up to indicate, as such.
“I think after last winter, a lot of citizens really remember what it was like and can understand why it’s important not to have those cars in the way.” Boutilier says.
Last winter, thousands of residents complained because city policy does not allow grading to pavement in neighbourhoods on a regular basis.
That will not change, the city will continue to blade to a 5 centimetre snow pak, But will be more aggressive about it.
“If we get a major snowfall, or we get a snowfall and we have do to general plowing on the arterial and collector routes, we will within five days start blading the residentials.” Says Bon Dunford, Director of Roadway Maintenance, “It’s not just wait, we will start and then once we start on them, we will continue with them, even we we do get more snowfall on the arterial and collectors.”
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The city has bought about $8M in new equipment, including two front end loaders, five snow blowers, and 20 sanding and plow trucks.
Boutilier also promises better communication, including a website for residents.
“People will be able to go on the website, put in your address, and find out what the situation is in your neighbourhood and when the snow clearing is going to be done.”
The new changes will mean drivers will have to make some changes to their habits.
If you park in a bus route during the seasonal ban, you’ll receive a $50.00 dollar ticket, and your vehicle could be towed.
Boutilier says the tough love approach is necessary.
“All I can say is, ‘tough!’ i got no other way of saying it. The situation we run into is, we got to keep the system operating.”
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