Final Report Update
Final Report Update
In order to present a fulsome report with options, recommendations, an implementation plan, and a clear financial picture, we have made the decision to defer the WMQS legislative report to 2023.
Between now and the tabling of the report, staff will finalize the recommended changes to the WMQS and an implementation plan to initiate changes, starting with the 2023/2024 winter season, will be included in the report to Council in 2023.
Update on Improvements for 2021/2022 Winter Season
As introduced in our last update, staff worked to implement several improvements for the 2021/2022 winter season based on a continued review of service delivery, recent technologies, and feedback from stakeholders through the public engagement survey, public engagement sessions, and conversations with Councillors.
Some highlights include:
- Responding more proactively and aggressively to all types of winter events, specifically smaller events earlier in the winter season to prevent significant snowpack on sidewalks and residential streets, which leads to ice buildup and rutting
- Analyzing winter weather events and deploying resources earlier and as required based on forecasts and local conditions
- Phasing out the use of sand and replacing it with grit on sidewalks and most roads to treat ice and slippery conditions more effectively
- Phasing out steel blades on plows, by replacing with rubber blades, resulting in quieter operation, clearing closer to the roads, which could help reduce salt use.
- Developed and implemented a policy to declare significant weather events when winter operations will take longer than expected, to inform the public and manage expectations
- Calling winter parking bans at set times and for a consistent length of time to manage public expectations and providing additional off-street parking during parking bans at City recreation facilities, OC Transpo park-and-rides, and City parking garages
- In collaboration with Corporate Accessibility Office, a training video was created and shared with all staff in RPS on accessibility awareness, highlighting specific challenges and barriers on the active transportation network for people with disabilities
Expectations for 2022/2023 Winter Season
Staff will provide a fulsome update on the improvements from the 2021/2022 winter season as part of the update to Council in 2023 and continue to expand upon some of these improvements for the 2022/2023 winter season.
As was noted in our last update, our community partners have played a significant role in developing our recommendations to-date and we are hopeful that with some additional time to finalize these recommendations, we can further reflect these contributions and considerations in the final report.
We remain grateful for your continued dedication, patience, and support on this initiative. Updating the Winter Maintenance Quality Standards has proven to be a significant undertaking and our focus continues to be on taking the time to consider the changing community, environmental, and financial picture.
It continues to be a significant undertaking to update our Winter Maintenance Quality Standards and we want to make sure we take the time to do it right, considering changing community and environmental needs. We are grateful for your continued dedication and support on this initiative. Stay tuned for further updates.
