Definitions
Lane kilometres
Residents may often recognize Public Works reference the term lane kilometre when speaking about winter operations. To give an example, if a four-lane road, such as Woodroffe, is extended by 1km, the lane kilometer concept will count it as four lane kilometres of roadway extension. The term lane kilometre is used because each kilometre of roadway needs to be cleared and treated.
Snow removal
Snowbanks on the City’s transportation network are removed or reduced in size when they begin to restrict sightlines, travel widths, or pedestrian, vehicular, and cycling traffic.
Significant Weather Event
A “Significant Weather Event” (SWE) is defined as an approaching or occurring weather hazard with the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the highways within a municipality. Weather Hazards are determined by Environment Canada as meeting the criteria for the issuance of an alert under its Public Weather Alerting Program(link is external).
This declaration suspends the Maintenance Quality Standards (MQS) timelines required for our City to meet our winter maintenance objectives. This declaration will remain in place until the City formally declares the Significant Weather Event has ended. Once an event has ended, standard timelines for winter maintenance activities will begin.
Snow disposal
Mechanical removal and dumping of snow at disposal sites acceptable for snow storage for the winter season.
Snow accumulation
The natural accumulation of new fallen snow or wind-blown snow that covers more than half a lane-width of a roadway, sidewalk or pathway.
Salt
The City applies dry salt, wet salt, liquid brine and abrasive materials (such as a grit mix) on streets. Salt is spread early during a snowstorm to make a brine solution that prevents the ice from sticking to the asphalt. To minimize salt use, rock salt is sprayed with a liquid de-icer as it is spread. This speeds up ice melting by making the salt sticky so it can adhere to the road.
Abrasive Material
Abrasive materials such as grit are used to increase traction in colder temperatures when salt is not effective.
Grit box
To make sidewalks safe to walk on in the winter, the City provides do-it-yourself grit boxes close to steep hills and in areas where there are many pedestrians, seniors and persons using mobility devices.
Treating (material application)
The use of salt and grit on our transportation network to treat or prevent icy conditions
Winter Weather Parking Ban
A winter weather parking ban is a temporary, city-wide ban prohibiting cars to park on the road for a certain set of time to allow our road operators to effectively clear the roads of ice and snow.
Freeze thaw cycle
A freeze thaw cycle occurs when air temperature drops low enough to freeze water, then increases enough for it thaw again. Freeze thaw cycles can cause a buildup of ice on our transportation network, and it also leads to an increase in the number of potholes that appear in the winter.