How Milton clears snow this winter: three road priorities, a 24-hour plowing goal, 5 cm for sidewalks and what residents must do
The Town plows arterial and transit routes first and aims to finish all streets within 24 hours of the snow ending. Homeowners clear their own sidewalks and driveway ends. The Town's plow map is still in testing.
The details
What the Town maintains
The Town of Milton says it maintains more than 2,400 lane kilometres of roads and over 250 kilometres of sidewalks. It says all of its winter operations follow the province's Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways (Ontario Regulation 239/02). This story covers Town roads and sidewalks; the Town's pages do not say how other road authorities clear their routes.
The three road priorities
- Primary (arterial) roads and transit routes: treated with salt or sand and plowed first to bare pavement, and pre-treated and plowed continuously during any snowfall
- Rural collector roads and industrial areas: treated with salt or sand and plowed to bare pavement after Priority 1 roads
- Urban and rural residential roads: serviced as needed after main and collector roads are clear, treated with salt or sand depending on conditions
After a winter storm event or a significant weather event, all roads are cleared. When every street needs plowing, the Town's aim is to finish within 24 hours after the end of the snowfall. It says heavy snowfalls or successive storms may extend that. The Town asks residents to wait a full 24 hours after a storm ends before reporting an uncleared street; after that, use the operations contact form or call 905-878-7252, extension 2500, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The Town publishes a snow plow priorities map. Its Milton Plow Tracks map is, in the Town's words, "in testing" and may not accurately reflect current winter operations, servicing or plowing activity.
Storm events and significant weather events
A winter storm event is when conditions significantly affect snow clearing and parking, and it can suspend street parking exceptions; the Town's guideline is a forecast of 10 cm or more. A significant weather event is declared when Environment Canada forecasts or reports severe weather that may affect normal winter maintenance, such as heavy or prolonged snowfall, freezing rain, high winds causing drifting, or extreme cold that reduces the effectiveness of salt or brine. The Town says a declaration does not mean maintenance stops, but that it can take crews longer than 24 hours to clear roads and sidewalks, and it urges residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
Sidewalks, driveways and mailboxes
- Town sidewalk plowing: with an accumulation of 5 cm or more, the Town begins plowing sidewalks and pathways associated with schools, transit routes and major pedestrian travel.
- Your sidewalk: residents are responsible for clearing the sidewalk at their property within 24 hours of the end of a snow or ice storm, and must not put the snow on the road (By-law 106-2019).
- Hydrants and drains: the Town asks residents to clear snow from fire hydrants and storm drains near their property.
- Driveway ends: plows push snow to the right side of the road, which leaves windrows at the end of driveways. The Town says operators do not intentionally block driveways, that it does not clear windrows and that this is the homeowner's job. It offers a Windrow Removal Program for seniors and people with disabilities, for which registration ran October 19 to 23.
- Mailboxes: the Town reimburses up to $100 for repair or replacement of a mailbox damaged by a Town plow. Report it through the operations contact form by May 30; the Town then explains how to submit receipts.
The Town's Snow Removal page does not give a fine amount for uncleared sidewalks, and this story does not state one.
Sources
Town of Milton
Snow RemovalTown of Milton
Winter MaintenanceTown of Milton
Winter Maintenance: Frequently Asked Questions