City promises better snow-clearing, tougher enforcement this year
Last Updated: Thursday, November 27, 2008 | 2:12 PM ET
CBC News
Slush made many Toronto sidewalks difficult to navigate. (Submitted by Marion Current)On the heels of the snowiest winter ever recorded in Toronto, the city says it will add more and better snow-clearing machines this year — but it also promises to get tough with those who don't shovel.
City officials talked about their snow-clearing plans at a news conference Thursday morning, surrounded by plows and salt trucks, all standing ready to go.
The snow-clearing crews are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. They're especially hoping there won't be so much snow during winter 2008-2009.
The average snowfall in Toronto is 133 cm. In 2007-2008, Toronto had three times that amount.
Gary Welsh, manager of transportation services for the city, says crews will do a better job this year of clearing sidewalks on the city's busiest streets and will pay more attention to clearing bike lanes.
Welsh said the city is also introducing improved equipment for some plows and salt trucks.
"We've got new equipment to plow narrow streets. We got retractable blades that move in and out, depending on the width of the road. We've also adjusted some of our main road-salt trucks [and] we've actually added snow plows to improve the snow-clearing efforts on the main roads," he said.
The city is also sending a strong message to homeowners about their responsibilities after a snowfall. It's their responsibility to clear the public sidewalk in front of their home.
Coun. Glenn DeBaeremaker, the head of the public works committee, promised stepped up enforcement for people who fail to clear the sidewalks.
He says if the city receives a complaint that someone hasn't shovelled, they'll send a bylaw officer within 24 hours to give a violation notice. If that doesn't get a response, the homeowner will be fined $125.
People who shovel their snow onto the street will face an even bigger fine of $360.
