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Snow Removal

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The District of Houston Council adopted the OPS-01 Snow Removal and Ice Control Policy (2021) via resolution ***0366-2021, issued at Regular Council Meeting on December 7, 2021 - replacing the OPS-01 Snow Removal Policy (2018).

Snow removal operations begin each day at 5:00am. To help the Public Works crews keep the streets clear of snow, residents are reminded:

• To keep parked vehicles off roadways and streets while crews are in the area clearing snow from the streets
• To keep parked vehicles off roadways and streets while crews are in the area clearing snow from the streets
• It is the responsibility of the individual property owners to clear snow from sidewalks adjacent to their property
• Snow removed from private property cannot be put on municipal property

The new Policy was adopted after considering key operational aspects and residents' requests concerning snow removal services in the community. Additionally, data from the 2018 Traffic Study 2018 and the 2021 Budget Survey regarding citizens' opinions on snow removal services and the budget allocated to the provision of this service were considered.

The main change reflected in this Policy is surrounding snow removal on sidewalks. In the former/rescinded Policy, all District sidewalks were classified as Priority 2. The new Policy identifies the following sidewalks as Priority 1:

• West Copeland Avenue from Highway 16 to 14th Street
• North 9th Street from Highway 16 to Butler Av.
• South 9th Street from Highway 16 to Butler Av.
• North 10th Street from Copeland to Butler Av.
• South 10th Street from Copeland to Butler Av.
• North 11th Street from Copeland to the Senior Centre
• West Butler Av. from Highway 16 to 11th Street
• West Poulton Av. from 9th Street to 11th Street
• East Poulton Av. from 9th Street to 11th Street
• South -West 14th Street
• East Mountainview Drive from 14th Street to Hangman Crescent
• North Hangman Crescent from Mountainview Drive to Pearson Road

Within Priority 2 Sidewalks, the Policy prioritizes the North and South Highway 16 sidewalks. These upgrades consider key sidewalks in the downtown commercial zone, alongside key service providers and adjacent to residential zones with high pedestrian traffic.

The new Policy also indicates that snow removal operations will begin after an accumulation of 75 mm (3 inches) of snow. Moreover, the Policy establishes that only windrows caused by a grader will be removed from residential and commercial driveways. These changes allow more flexibility for the operations team deployment to meet the new targets set through policy.

Overall, the new objectives set through the Snow Removal and Ice Control Policy (2021) represent an increase in the level of service to improve mobility and citizens' well-being and safety during the winter months.

Additionally, through the Snow Board Policy (2009), The District of Houston provides a service to the infirm and disabled who are physically unable to remove snow from their driveways and who do not have any alternatives. This work depends on the amount of snowfall and the availability of staff as driveways cannot be cleared by operators during regular snow removal operations.

Residential driveway snow removal services will be provided, within the District's boundaries, in accordance with the following priorities:

• persons who are infirm or disabled, who are physically unable to remove snow and have no other form of able-bodied assistance within their home
• persons with short-term medical conditions which prevent them from removing snow and who have no other form of able-bodied assistance within their home (on application and only for the specified term of the application)

For inquiries, please contact:
Mike Cooper, Manager of Operations
District of Houston
PO Box 370, Houston BC, V0J 1Z0
P: 250-845-2238
E: operations@houston.ca

• Snow Removal Policy
• Snow Removal Priority Maps
• Snow Board Policy