Town of Lacombe
Snow Removal Policy

Policy Number: 32/230 99

Adopted:    Dec. 13/99
Amended:   Jan. 9/06
Resolution:  06-010

Definitions:   

1.1      In this Policy: 

a)      "CAO" shall mean the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town Of Lacombe

b)      "Public Works" shall mean the Public Works Division of Infrastructure Services of the Town of Lacombe and the staff and equipment thereof

c)      "Sidewalk" shall mean any concrete or asphalt sidewalk, trail or walkway

1.2      Classifications of streets for the purposes of this policy is out on Map 1 of this policy.

Authority of Chief Administrative Officer

2.1      The CAO shall be responsible for the implementation of this policy.             

2.2      Work under this policy will be undertaken by Public Works within or outside of normal working hours in accordance with the priorities. If staffing resources are insufficient to meet the snow clearance requirements additional contracted equipment and operators may be engaged to meet the provisions of this policy or to deal with extraordinary or extenuating circumstances.

2.3      Despite section 2.2 specifically and the provisions of this policy generally, the CAO may vary the priorities, timings, work assignments, equipment usage and any other policy provision that may be necessary in order to deal with extraordinary or extenuating circumstances. 

2.4      The CAO will maintain a list of all equipment available from outside private or public sources.  Private operators interested in performing work for the Town shall register their interest with the CAO specifying the type of equipment available and the terms upon which it is available 

Snow Clearing Methods 

3.1      Clearing of snow from streets will be undertaken using either one of three principal methods:

a)      clearing to the sides of a street using a motor grader or front end loaders, (graders)
or

b)      clearing to the sides of a street using a truck-mounted wing plow (truck plow)

c)      removal of snow with loaders and trucks (removal)

3.2      The use of a particular method for clearing a particular street or in a particular circumstance will be determined by the CAO based on the configuration of the street or sidewalks, street width, traffic volumes or driveway locations or any other specific circumstances.  Snow will be removed from any location where its existence interferes with the vision and safety of motorists or where the course of melt water drainage is altered to the extent that property damage may arise. 

Commencement of Clearing Operations 

4.1      Snow clearing operations to be commenced once snowfall has reached 8 cm for Priority 1 and 2 Streets and 12 cm for Priority 3 Streets and proceed continuously in accordance to the priorities mentioned in the herein policy.

4.2      For streets to be cleared by grader or removal, clearing operations will commence after a major snowfall, or after a minor snowfall where the accumulation of snow is equivalent to a major snowfall.   

4.3      For streets to be cleared by truck plow, clearing operations will commence after any snowfall greater than 8 cm or any accumulation greater than 8 cm.

Priorities for Clearing 

5.1      Snow clearing shall be undertaken in order of the following priorities:    

5.2     The assignment of priorities is set out in Schedule A. The CAO may amend the priority assignments in response to specific conditions or circumstances. 

5.3     Unless unusual circumstances or additional snowfalls otherwise interfere:   

a)      Priority 1 streets will be cleared within 72 hours

b)      Priority 2 streets will be cleared within 96 hours, and

c)      Priority 3 streets will be cleared within 24 days

of the initiation of snow clearing activities. 

5.4      The order in which Priority 3 streets are cleared will be varied throughout the winter season so all streets receive clearing on an equitable basis. 

5.5      Should another snow fall occur before all streets are fully cleared, clearing operations will start again with top priority streets  

Snow Clearing Operations 

6.1      Snow shall be cleared equally to both sides of the streets except where sidewalk locations, boulevard widths, sight lines, driveway locations and other obstructions require that the snow be cleared to only one side.   

6.2      All driveways blocked as a result of street clearing operations shall be cleared within two (2) hours of blockage. 

Snow Removal

7.1  In this division:

a)      "major snowfall" shall mean a snowfall exceeding 12 cm in depth

b)      "minor snowfall" shall mean a snowfall less than 12 cm in depth

7.2      On streets where the clearing of snow to the sides of the street is not possible because of sidewalk configuration, street width, traffic volumes or driveway locations, snow will be removed by truck and placed in a snow disposal site designated by the CAO.  

7.3      Snow removal shall be undertaken in order of the following priorities:  

a)	Priority 1	Arterial streets Downtown commercial streets Minor collector streets,  Local streets or driveways which provide access to emergency facilities,
b)	Priority 2	Minor Collector streets  Major local streets  Access routes and driveways to major community facilities
c)	Priority 3	All other local streets, lanes and public parking lots.

7.3      The assignment of priorities is set out in Schedule B. The CAO may amend the priority assignments in response to specific conditions or circumstances. 

7.4      Snow removal operations will commence after a major snowfall, or after a minor snowfall where the accumulation of snow is equivalent to a major snowfall as follows:   

a)      Priority 1 Locations - Removal will begin within 24 hours of the end of the snowfall except where the snowfall occurs on Friday or Saturday. Removal operations will take place during the night.  

b)      Priority 2 Locations - Removal will begin within 36 hours of the end of the snowfall except where the snowfall occurs on Friday or Saturday. Removal operations will take place during the day. 

c)      Priority 3 Locations - Removal will begin within 72 hours of the end of the snowfall except where the snowfall occurs on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Removal operations will take place during the day.

7.5      Unless unusual circumstances or additional snowfalls otherwise interfere:   

a)      Priority 1 streets will have snow removed within 72 hours, 

b)      Priority 2 streets will have snow removed within 96 hours, and 

c)      Priority 3 streets will have snow removed within 24 days

  of the initiation of snow removal activities. 

7.6      Should another snowfall occur before the snow on all streets is fully removed, removal operations will start again with top priority streets 

7.7      Despite Section 7.1, in residential areas where the existence of monolithic sidewalk, curb and gutter on both sides of the streets would require the removal of snow, the CAO may direct that snow be plowed to cover one sidewalk with snow. 

7.8      Sidewalks under Section 7.7 will be covered on an alternating annual basis, with the west and south walks covered firstly in the winter of 1996/1997 and east and north sidewalks covered in the winter of 1997/1998, alternating sides thereafter.  Notice of the intent to activate Section 7.7 shall be given to affected properties prior to the onset of the winter season each year.    

Street Sanding

8.1     Assigned staff will inspect the streets once per day including weekends and holidays and more often if weather conditions require, and determine if sanding is required and if so at what locations.

8.2      Streets shall be sanded as required when streets become hazardous to public safety.

8.3      The Lacombe Police Service may request sanding for hazardous areas.   

8.4      The following locations shall receive sanding:

• intersections

• inclines

• school zones

• primary driving lanes at Lacombe Ice Centre and Lacombe Memorial Centre

• any other area where road conditions may make driving unsafe

• any other area where there is a high degree of pedestrian and vehicle interaction

8.5      Priority areas for sanding are out in Schedule C. The CAO may amend the priority assignments in response to specific conditions or circumstances.

Sidewalks, Trails and Walkways  

9.1      Pursuant to the Traffic Bylaw, all occupants of properties shall remove the snow and ice from the sidewalks abutting their property and the Town shall clear all snow and ice from those sidewalks for which it has responsibility as a property owner. 

9.2      Notwithstanding 9.1, the Town will also undertake snow clearing and ice control on sidewalks and hard surface trails within the designated trail system.

9.3     Assigned staff will inspect the sidewalks once per day including weekends and holidays and if snow clearing or the control of ice and slippery conditions is required, will commence snow clearing and sanding operations immediately.

9.4     The clearing and sanding of sidewalks shall be undertaken in order of the following priorities:

a)      Priority 1 - downtown area sidewalks

b)      Priority 2 - School related pedestrian sidewalks

c)      Priority 3 - All other sidewalks and hard surface trails which are the Town's responsibility under section 9.1

d)      Priority 4 - Outdoor skating rinks

9.5      The assignment of priorities to sidewalks is set out in Schedule D. The CAO may amend the priority assignments in response to specific conditions or circumstances. 

__________________________________________     DATE:  January 9, 2006
Mayor

__________________________________________     RES:    06-010
Chief Administrative Officer

Schedule A

Snow Clearing Priorities                  

Set out Below and Shown on Map 2

Priority 1  

• arterial streets

•  collector streets

•  minor collector streets, local streets or driveways which provide access to emergency facilities, downtown commercial area

Priority  2

• Minor Collector Streets
• Major local streets
• Access routes and driveways to major community facilities

Priority 3  

• all other local streets

• lanes

•  public parking lots.

Schedule B

Snow Removal Priorities

Set out Below and Shown on Map 2                    

Priority 1

• arterial streets

• downtown commercial

• collector streets

•  minor collector streets, local streets

• driveways which provide access to emergency facilities, downtown commercial area 

Priority 2  

• minor collector streets
•  major local streets and access routs
•  major community facilities

Priority 3  

• all other local streets, lanes and public parking lots

Schedule C

Sanding Priorities

Schedule D

Sidewalk Clearing Priorities                       

Priority 1

•   Downtown Area Sidewalks

Priority 2

•  School Related Pedestrian Sidewalks

Priority 3

•  Remaining Areas