Roadways Emergency Response Plan
The Roadways Emergency Response Plan details a phased approach for responding to extreme or unusual snow events that have the potential to severely impact safety and mobility across the city. Watch: Roadways Emergency Response Plan (YouTube). The recommended criteria for the activation of the plan are:
1. Major snowfall with snow accumulation greater than 25 cm and/or combination of snow, freezing rain, and wind; and
2. Reduced mobility to the point that light vehicles cannot travel on city streets, mobility across the city is severely impacted, and the regular winter maintenance level of service applicable to typical winter snow events can not be met.
Roadways Emergency Response Plan Timeline
| Phase | Timing (from end of snowfall) | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | First 12-24 hours | Grading and plowing Priority 1 streets, access to emergency facilities, access to critical City services |
| 2 | 36 hours | Grading major Saskatoon Transit routes including some Priority 2 streets |
| 3 | 96 hours | Grading remaining Priority 2, and Priority 3 streets (including school zones) |
| 4 | 10 days | Grading local streets (7 days) and industrial areas (3 days); clearing major pedestrian pathways and cycling infrastructure |
| 5 | 8 weeks | Removing stored snow for parking availability and improvement of sight lines city-wide |
What you can expect from us
1. Grading and storing snow in the parking lane on all streets. Streets with higher traffic volumes are graded first.
2. Only removing snow piles after public safety and mobility are restored across the city through city-wide grading. The priority sequence for snow removal is School Zones, Business Improvement Districts, Priority Streets with residential Local Streets last as they have the lowest traffic volumes.
3. City and contractor crews working six days per week from 7 am to 7 pm removing snow piles on local streets, which is expected to take 6 to 8 weeks to complete.
4. Posting ‘No Parking’ signs with an estimated start date for snow removal on your local street. The signs will remain in effect daily from 7 am to 7 pm until they are removed, but you will be able to park there overnight, between 7 pm and 7 am. Please double-check the start time on the signs posted, as priority streets will have parking restrictions for overnight snow removal beginning at 7 pm.
5. Removing snow piles on local streets, with some crews starting in core neighbourhoods working outward and others starting in outer neighbourhoods working inward. Snow removal will be carried out in all areas at the same time - in sequence, beginning with those labelled as "1" through to "6". Find your neighbourhood on the snow removal map.
6. Leaving the street with some snowpack and non-hazardous snow piles that are not expected to impact safety or on-street parking. Any snow piles or ridges purposefully left in place will be trimmed to avoid encroachment into driving lanes, crosswalks or sidewalks.
How you can help us
1. Tell your family, friends, and neighbours about the snow removal plan and to check the City's website for neighbourhood progress.
2. Watch for No Parking signs and remove your vehicle by 7 am on the posted date. Vehicles that remain on a street scheduled for snow removal will be relocated to a nearby street. Check Find My Vehicle! if your vehicle has moved.
3. Obey work zone signs and leave space for crews and equipment to work, as they may not be able to see vehicles and people approaching.
4. Place your blue or black cart in front of snow piles or 4 feet to the side of all snowbanks (not on top or behind). In a cul-de-sac, place carts all in one area, either in front of or beside the snow pile, facing in the same direction.
5. Keep children off snow piles and do not build tunnels through snow piles. Not only will they be hidden from snow removal crews, but the piles can collapse, and the weight of that snow is very dangerous.
6. In case of a fire, firefighters need to be able to spot and access fire hydrants quickly to protect people and property. When shoveling snow, please take some time to clear any fire hydrants of ice and snow near your property.
More Information
Local street snow removal (neighbourhoods)
City-wide snow removal on local streets will improve sight lines, clear sidewalks and open up on-street parking spaces.
- Snow piles that are causing safety concerns and impacting on-street parking will be removed. Streets will have some snowpack and some non-hazardous snow piles remaining. See illustrations below under "Snow piles that will be removed".
- The current and upcoming neighbourhoods slated for snow removal will be posted on the City’s website.
- Residents will know when crews are coming to their neighbourhood when they see ‘No Parking’ signs go up along their street with the estimated start date for planned work. Parking restrictions remain in effect daily from 7 am to 7 pm until the work is done and the signs are removed.
- If crews haven’t completed the snow removal and signs remain, residents can return to park overnight from 7 pm to 7 am. Please double-check the start time posted on the sign, as snow removal happens at night on priority streets.
- This work is expected to take 6 to 8 weeks to complete, which will be more accurately estimated once all crews are in place and work is in progress.
- We ask that residents keep snow from driveways and sidewalks on their property, as extra snow on the street creates accessibility and safety issues for you and your neighbours and makes more work for the equipment operators. This is also illegal as per Bylaw 8463 - Sidewalk Clearing Bylaw.
Parking restrictions for snow removal
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Residents will know when it’s their turn when yellow paper “No Parking” signs are posted on their street with an estimated start date.
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You can help by keeping vehicles away for 12 hours every day starting 7 am or 7 pm – depending on your signs.
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Parking restrictions starting at 7 am are in effect Monday to Saturday for snow removal on local streets until the work is done, and signs come down.
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Parking restrictions starting at 7 pm are for snow removal on priority streets and in effect 7 days a week, Sunday to Saturday.
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Vehicles will be relocated to a nearby street if parked when crews are ready to start. Check Find My Vehicle! if your vehicle has moved.
Snow piles that will be removed and illustrations
City-wide snow removal on local streets improves sight lines, clears sidewalks and opens up on-street parking spaces.
What to expect for this snow removal work
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Snow piles that are causing safety concerns and impacting on-street parking will be removed.
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Snow piles at intersections, crosswalks and park entries will be removed.
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Snow piles in front of houses will be removed.
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Large piles of sidewalk snow that were left by snow grading and impede accessibility will be cleared.
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Snow piled in the centre (or bulb) of cul-de-sacs will be removed.
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Large snow piles on streets or boulevards that are blocking access to fire hydrants, community mailboxes and utility boxes will be removed.
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Large ruts and areas of roughness will be removed from driving lanes.
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Streets will have some snowpack and some non-hazardous snow piles remaining.
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Snow piles on local streets that are not impacting drivability or on-street parking in front of houses may remain in place for the duration of the winter.
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Snow piles that are less intrusive and not directly in front of homes will remain.
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Snow located on boulevards and medians, along vacant lots or parks and along the flankage (i.e. sides) of lots will remain.
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Snow piles along parks and vacant lots will remain.
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Any snow piles or ridges purposefully left in place will be trimmed to avoid encroachment into driving lanes, crosswalks or sidewalks.
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Snow piles left in place will also be trimmed back 5 m from corners and 2 m from back lane entrances.
Illustrations for snow removal on local streets
Waste cart placement and illustrations
- Place your waste carts out for collection on the scheduled day -- even if there are parking restrictions in place for snow removal.
- Place your cart in front or 4 feet to the side of all snowbanks (not on top or behind)
- In a cul-de-sac, place carts all in one area, either in front of or beside the snow pile, facing in the same direction.
- The snow removal crew will relocate any carts from the street to the residents' property during snow removal work is occurring and put them back once the removal is complete. The carts should only be inaccessible to the collections crews for a few hours.
- The collections truck will return to any blocks that were missed due to snow removal later in the day.
- If you placed your cart correctly and on time, but it still wasn't collected, please call 306-975-2486 for garbage or 306-242-2300 for recycling.
- Carts should be place in accordance with the guidelines for Cart Care.
Cart Placement Illustrations
