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Winter Operations Plan
(2026 to 2031).docx
2026 - 2031
2
Contents
1.
Purpose............................................................................................................... 4
2.
Definitions........................................................................................................... 4
3.
Objective ............................................................................................................. 5
4.
Policy Statement ................................................................................................ 6
5.
Winter Maintenance Program ........................................................................... 6
5.1
The Winter Maintained System ....................................................................................6
5.2
Vulnerable Areas ..........................................................................................................7
5.3
Winter Maintenance Season.........................................................................................7
5.4
Weather Monitoring......................................................................................................7
5.5
Monitoring and Reporting ............................................................................................8
6.
Winter Maintenance Standards......................................................................... 8
6.1
Patrolling .......................................................................................................................8
6.2
Winter Sidewalk Patrol .................................................................................................9
6.3
Snow Accumulation on Roadways..............................................................................9
6.4
Snow accumulation on Bicycle Lanes.......................................................................10
6.5
Ice Formation on Roadways ......................................................................................10
6.6
Snow Accumulation on Sidewalks ............................................................................12
6.7
Ice formation on sidewalks and icy sidewalks .........................................................13
7.
Winter Preparations ......................................................................................... 13
7.1
Prior to the Winter Season.........................................................................................13
7.2
One Month Prior to the Winter Season .....................................................................14
7.3
Two Weeks Prior to the Winter Season.....................................................................14
7.4
At the Start of the Winter Season ..............................................................................14
8.
Operations ........................................................................................................ 14
8.1
Winter Patrol................................................................................................................15
8.2
Staffing and Hours of Work ........................................................................................15
8.3
Training .......................................................................................................................15
8.4
Winter Materials ..........................................................................................................15
8.5
Equipment - Winter Maintenance Fleet.....................................................................16
8.6
Yard Facilities .............................................................................................................17
i.
Concession 6 Yard......................................................................................................17
ii.
Peel Street Yard ..........................................................................................................18
8.7
Snow Removal and Disposal .....................................................................................19
8.8
Record Keeping ..........................................................................................................19
9.
Communications .............................................................................................. 20
9.1
Call Out Procedures ...................................................................................................20
9.2
Road Closure Procedures .........................................................................................20
9.3
Declaring a Significant Weather Event......................................................................21
10.
Sand/Salt and Plow Routes...........................................................................21
10.1
Priority of Routes...........................................................................................21
10.2
Priority for Roadways....................................................................................21
10.3
Priority for Sidewalk ......................................................................................23
11.
Decommissioning Winter Operations ................................................. 24
11.1
Two Weeks After the Winter Season Ends...................................................24
11.2
One Month After the Winter Season Ends....................................................24
12.
MonitoringandUpdating ...................................................................... 24
Appendix 1: Winter Maintained Sidewalks.........................................................................26
Appendix 2: Route of Representative Roads For Road Patrol ........................................28
Appendix 3: Plow Routes ....................................................................................................29
Appendix 4: Winter Maintained Alleys and Parking Lots ..................................................32
3
Appendix 5: Media Release Road Closure .........................................................................34
Appendix 6: Media Release Significant Weather Event ....................................................36
Appendix 7: Winter Daily Checklist ....................................................................................37
Appendix 8: Winter Night Patrol .........................................................................................39
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1. Purpose
This Winter Operations Plan sets out a policy and procedural framework for ensuring
that the Town of Saugeen Shores continuously provides effective delivery of winter
maintenance services, and the management of road salt used in winter maintenance
operations.
The Plan is meant to be dynamic, to allow the Municipality to evaluate and phase-in any
changes, new approaches and technologies in winter maintenance activities in a fiscally
sound manner. At the same time, any modifications to municipal winter maintenance
activities must ensure that roadway safety is not compromised.
The Plan will be reviewed and updated every five (5) years, with new roads
automatically being added with the standard of care listed for other roads of the same
classification. Any major changes to level of service directed by Council will result in an
interim update to the document.
2. Definitions
-
Anti-icing: means the application of liquid de-icers directly to the road surface in
advance of a winter event.
-
Bicycle Lane: a portion of a roadway that has been designated by pavement
markings or signage for the preferential or exclusive use of cyclists, or a portion
of a roadway that has been designated for the exclusive use of cyclists by signage
and a physical or marked buffer;
-
De-icing: means the application of solids, liquids, pre-treated material to the road
surface after the on-set of the winter event.
-
Highway: includes a common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway,
driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct or trestle, any part of which is intended
for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the area
between the lateral property lines thereof.
-
Paved Road: is a road with an asphalt surface, concrete surface, composite
pavement, or portland cement.
-
Pre-treat: means the application of liquids (calcium chloride, sodium chloride, etc.)
to dry sand or salt prior to being loaded for storage or applied to the road surface.
-
Pre-wetting: means the application of liquids (calcium chloride, sodium chloride,
etc.) at the spinner of the truck just prior to application to the road surface.
-
Sidewalk: means the part of the highway specifically set aside or commonly
understood to be for pedestrian use, typically consisting of a paved surface but
does not include crosswalks, medians, boulevards, shoulders or any part of the
sidewalk where cleared snow has been deposited.
5
-
Significant Weather Event: means an approaching or occurring weather hazard
with the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the highways within a
municipality.
-
Surface Treated Road: is road with bituminous surface treatment comprised of
one or two applications of asphalt emulsion and stone chips over a gravel road.
-
Unpaved Road: is a road with a gravel, stone or other loose traveling surface.
-
Weather Hazard: means the weather hazards determined by Environment
Canada as meeting the criteria for the issuance of an alert under its Public
Weather Alerting Program.
-
Winter Event: is a weather condition affecting roads such as snowfall, windblown
snow, freezing rain, frost, black ice, etc., to which a winter event response is
required.
-
Winter Event Response: is a series of winter control activities performed in
response to a winter event.
-
Continuous Winter Event Response: is a response to a winter event with full
deployment of staff and equipment that plow/salt/sand the entire system.
-
Spot Winter Event Response: is a response to a winter event with only a part
deployment of staff and equipment or with full deployment to only part of the
system.
-
Winter Event Response Hours: are the total numbers of person-hours per year
(plowing, salting/sanding, winging back, etc.) to respond to winter events.
3. Objective
The Town of Saugeen Shores staff will strive, insofar as reasonably practicable,
to provide safe winter road conditions for vehicular and pedestrian traffic as set out
in the level of service policies in the level of service policies and within the resources established by the Council.
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4. Policy Statement
The Town of Saugeen Shores will provide efficient and cost effective winter
maintenance to ensure, insofar as reasonably practicable, the safety of users of
the municipal road network in keeping with applicable provincial legislation and
accepted standards while striving to minimize adverse impacts to the environment.
These commitments will be met by:
-
adhering to the procedures contained within the Winter Operations Plan;
-
reviewing and upgrading the Winter Operations Plan on an annual basis to
incorporate new technologies and new developments;
-
committing to ongoing winter maintenance staff training and education; and
-
staying current with changes to Best Practices and Industry standards
5. Winter Maintenance Program
The following sections describe the activities performed for Winter Control by the
Town of Saugeen Shores and the infrastructure that is performed on.
-
The major activities related to winter maintenance are:
-
Snow plowing
-
Salt/sand application
-
Salt and sand storage
-
Snow removal
-
Snow storage
-
De-Icing
-
Hydrant access
5.1
The Winter Maintained System
The Town of Saugeen Shores is responsible for winter maintenance on:
Table 1: Winter Maintenance
Winter
Maintained
Unmaintained
Sidewalks
76
11
Roads
and
Alleys
(Lane Km)
485
81
For the purposes of this winter operations plan, the highways under the jurisdiction of
the Town of Saugeen Shores have been classified (Class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) based o
n the Classification of based on the Classification of Highways table included in O. Reg. 239/02. The average daily
traffic on a highway or part of a highway under the jurisdiction of the Town of
Saugeen Shores are determined by:
a) counting and averaging the daily two-way traffic on the highway or part of the
highway; or
-
estimating the average daily two-way traffic on the highway or part of the highway.
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The following table breaks down the winter-maintained road system in the Town of
Saugeen Shores as:
Table 2: Winter Maintained Roads
Paved Lane/KM
Surface Treated/KM
Unpaved Lane/KM
Rural
Urban
Semi-
Urban
Rural
Urban
Rural Urban
Semi -
Urban
Class 1
0
0
0
0
0
0.78
0.
0.20
Class 2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Class 3
8.05
4.31
3.99
0
0
0
0
0
Class 4
31.13
18.61
0.96
67.09
0
22.38
0
0
Class 5
13.75
79.78
33.34
2.45
0
0
0
0.39
Class 6
6.09
89.82
65.75
0.09
3.27
23.46
2.19
3.33
5.2
Vulnerable Areas
The Town of Saugeen Shores does not fall under a Source Water Protection Region
that requires formal Salt Management programs.
5.3
Winter Maintenance Season
The winter maintenance season during which the Town of Saugeen Shores will
perform winter highway maintenance commences on October 31st and is
completed March 31st of each year.
5.4
Weather Monitoring
(1) From October 1 to April 30, the minimum standard is to monitor the weather, both
current and forecast to occur in the next 24 hours, once every shift or three times or
more per calendar day, whichever is more frequent, at intervals determined by the
municipality.
(2) From May 1 to September 30, the minimum standard is to monitor the weather, both
current and forecast to occur in the next 24 hours, once per calendar day.
-
In order to determine an effective winter event response and allocate the
appropriate resources the Town of Saugeen Shores supplements road patrol
information with weather information from various sources which includes:
-
Observations from municipal staff, communication with staff of adjacent
municipalities and MTO contractors.
-
Customized weather forecasts which are updated 48 times/day from a Value-Added
Meteorological Service Town of Saugeen Shores.
-
Monitoring websites www.weatherlink.com.
-
Staff also monitor pavement temperatures by means of on-board infrared.
-
Staff also monitor pavement temperatures by means of on-board infrared
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thermometers which are mounted on the patrol and other trucks, and.
-
On board temperature reading in Manager of Public Works vehicle.
Weather observations are recorded and stored for documentation in accordance
with the Regulation.
5.5
Monitoring and Reporting
Challenges and opportunities for improvement are reviewed annually at the end
of the winter season for potential changes to the next year's plan. New sidewalk
clearing requests as well as new roads assumed by the Municipality are reviewed
such that they can be incorporated into the plan annually.
6. Winter Maintenance Standards
The Town of Saugeen Shores sets out as a minimum winter control operations
within the Minimum Maintenance Standards Regulation. However, the Town
strives to maintain the roads to clear conditions within a shift, being 7:30am to
3:30pm daily. Operators are required to comply with the Commercial Vehicle
Operator Registration requirements which stipulate hours at work, hours driving
and rest hours.
6.1
Patrolling
The following is an excerpt from the Minimum Maintenance Standards Regulation
239/02:
In accordance with the Regulation section 3.(1) The standard for the frequency of
patrolling of highways to check for conditions described in this Regulation is set out in
the Table to this section. O. Reg. 23/10, s. 3 (1); O. Reg. 366/18, s. 3 (2).
(2) If it is determined by the municipality that the weather monitoring referred to in
section 3.1 indicates that there is a substantial probability of snow accumulation on
roadways, ice formation on roadways or icy roadways, the standard for patrolling
highways is, in addition to that set out in subsection (1), to patrol highways that the
municipality selects as representative of its highways, at intervals deemed necessary by
the municipality, to check for such conditions. O. Reg. 47/13, s. 2; O. Reg. 366/18, s. 3
(2).
The Town of Saugeen Shores follows the Winter Patrolling Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP PW 018) to ensure that this standard is implemented.
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6.2
Winter Sidewalk Patrol
Patrolling sidewalks is an activity undertaken simultaneously with road patrol. The
following is the excerpt from the regulation:
In accordance with the regulation section 16.7(1) If it is determined by the
municipality that the weather monitoring referred to in section 3.1 indicates that
there is a substantial probability of snow accumulation on sidewalks in excess of
8 cm, ice formation on sidewalks or icy sidewalks, the standard for patrolling
sidewalks is to patrol sidewalks that the municipality selects as representative of
its sidewalks at intervals deemed necessary by the municipality. O. Reg. 366/18,
s. 15.
(2) Patrolling a sidewalk consists of visually observing the sidewalk, either by
driving by the sidewalk on the adjacent roadway or by driving or walking on the
sidewalk or by electronically monitoring the sidewalk and may be performed by
persons responsible for patrolling roadways or sidewalks or by persons
responsible for or performing roadway or sidewalk maintenance activities. O. Reg.
366/18, s. 15.
6.3
Snow Accumulation on Roadways
As per Section 4 of the Regulation:
4.(1) The minimum standard for addressing snow accumulation is:
after becoming aware of the fact that the snow accumulation on a roadway is
greater than the depth set out in the Table to this section, to deploy resources as
soon as practicable to address the snow accumulation; and
(a) after the snow accumulation has ended, to address the accumulation to reduce
the snow to a depth less than or equal to the depth set out in the Table within the
time set out in the Table,
(i) to provide a minimum lane width of the lesser of three meters for each lane
or the actual lane width, or
(ii) on a Class 4 or Class 5 highway with two lanes, to provide a total width of at
least five meters.
(2) If the depth of snow accumulation on a roadway is less than or equal to the
depth set out in the Table to this section, the roadway is deemed to be in a state
of repair with respect to snow accumulation.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the depth of snow accumulation on a roadway
may be determined in accordance with subsection (4) by a municipal employee,
agent or contractor, whose duties or responsibilities include one or more of the
following:
a) Patrolling highways.
b) Performing highway maintenance activities.
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c) Supervising staff who perform activities described in paragraph 1 or 2.
(4) The depth of snow accumulation on a roadway may be determined by,
a) performing an actual measurement.
b) monitoring the weather; or
c) performing a visual estimate
(5) For the purposes of this section, addressing snow accumulation on a roadway
includes, but is not limited to,
a) plowing the roadway
b) salting the roadway
c) applying abrasive materials to the roadway; or
d) any combination of the methods described in clauses a), b) and c).
(6) This section does not apply to that portion of the roadway designated for parking.
The standard for treating snow with respect to time on roadways is:
Table 3: Road Classification
Class of Highway
Depth
Time
1
2.5 cm
4 hours
2
5 cm
6 hours
3
8 cm
12 hours
4
8 cm
16 hours
5
10 cm
24 hours
6.4
Snow accumulation on Bicycle Lanes
Sec 4.2 (1) (a) of the regulation states that "after becoming aware of the fact that
the snow accumulation on a bicycle lane is greater than the depth set out in the
Table to this section, to deploy resources as soon as practicable to address the
snow accumulation."
It is noteworthy that the snow accumulation standards for bicycle lanes is lower
than for the adjacent roadways in which they are contained, with the implication
that where maintenance is performed on the roadway and bicycle lane in unison,
both standards should be satisfied.
6.5
Ice Formation on Roadways
As per Section 5 of the Regulation:
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5.(1) The standard for the prevention of ice formation on roadways is doing the
following in the 24-hour period preceding an alleged formation of ice on a roadway:
1) Monitor the weather in accordance with section 3.1.
2) Patrol in accordance with section 3.
3) . If the municipality determines, as a result of its activities under
paragraph 1 or 2, that there is a substantial probability of ice forming
on a roadway, treat the roadway, if practicable, to prevent ice formation
within the time set out in Table 1 to this section, starting from the time
that the municipality determines is the appropriate time to deploy
resources for that purpose. O. Reg. 366/18, s. 8.
(2) If the municipality meets the standard set out in subsection (1) and, despite
such compliance, ice forms on a roadway, the roadway is deemed to be in a state
of repair until the applicable time set out in Table 2 to this section expires after the
municipality becomes aware of the fact that the roadway is icy. O. Reg. 366/18,
s.8.
(3) Subject to section 5.1, the standard for treating icy roadways is to treat the icy
roadway within the time set out in Table 2 to this section, and an icy roadway is
deemed to be in a state of repair until the applicable time set out in Table 2 to this
section expires after the municipality becomes aware of the fact that a roadway is
icy. O. Reg. 366/18, s. 8.
(4) For the purposes of this section, treating a roadway means applying material
to the roadway, including but not limited to, salt, sand or any combination of salt
and sand. O. Reg. 366/18, s. 8.
(5) For greater certainty, this section applies in respect of ice formation on bicycle
lanes on a roadway but does not apply to other types of bicycle facilities. O. Reg.
366/18, s. 8
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The minimum standard for treating icy roadways is:
Table 4: Minimum Standards - Icy Roadways
Class of Highway
Time
1
3 hours
2
4 hours
3
8 hours
4
12 hours
5
16 hours
6
16 hours
6.6
Snow Accumulation on Sidewalks
Subject to section 16.4, the standard for addressing snow accumulation on a sidewalk after
the snow accumulation has ended is,
a) to reduce the snow to a depth less than or equal to 8 centimetres within 48
hours; and
b) to provide a minimum sidewalk width of 1 metre. O. Reg. 366/18, s. 15.
(2) If the depth of snow accumulation on a sidewalk is less than or equal to 8
centimetres, the sidewalk is deemed to be in a state of repair in respect of snow
accumulation. O. Reg. 366/18, s. 15.
(3) If the depth of snow accumulation on a sidewalk exceeds 8 centimetres while
the snow continues to accumulate, the sidewalk is deemed to be in a state of
repair with respect to snow accumulation, until 48 hours after the snow
accumulation ends. O. Reg. 366/18, s. 15.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the depth of snow accumulation on a sidewalk
may be determined in the same manner as set out in subsection 4 (4) and by the
persons mentioned in subsection 4 (3) with necessary modifications. O. Reg.
366/18, s. 15.
(5) For the purposes of this section, addressing snow accumulation on a sidewalk
includes;
a) Plowing the sidewalk;
b) salting the sidewalk;
c) applying abrasive materials to the sidewalk;
d) applying other chemical or organic agents to the sidewalk; or
e) any combination of the methods described in clauses (a) to (d). O. Reg. 366/18,
s. 15. referred to in section 3.1 indicates that there is a substantial probability
of snow accumulation on sidewalks in excess of 8 cm, ice formation on
sidewalks or icy sidewalks, the standard for patrolling sidewalks is to patrol
sidewalks that the municipality selects as representative of its sidewalks at
intervals deemed necessary by the municipality.
13
6.7
Ice formation on sidewalks and icy sidewalks
Subject to section 16.6, the standard for the prevention of ice formation on sidewalks is to,
a) monitor the weather in accordance with section 3.1 in the 24-hour period preceding
an alleged formation of ice on a sidewalk; and
b) treat the sidewalk if practicable to prevent ice formation or improve traction within
48 hours if the municipality determines that there is a substantial probability of ice
forming on a sidewalk, starting from the time that the municipality determines is the
appropriate time to deploy resources for that purpose. O. Reg. 366/18, s. 15.
(2) If ice forms on a sidewalk even though the municipality meets the standard set out in
subsection (1), the sidewalk is deemed to be in a state of repair in respect of ice until 48
hours after the municipality first becomes aware of the fact that the sidewalk is icy. O. Reg.
366/18, s. 15.
(3) The standard for treating icy sidewalks after the municipality becomes aware of the fact
that a sidewalk is icy is to treat the icy sidewalk within 48 hours, and an icy sidewalk is
deemed to be in a state of repair for 48 hours after it has been treated. O. Reg. 366/18, s.
15.
(4) For the purposes of this section, treating a sidewalk means applying materials including
salt, sand or any combination of salt and sand to the sidewalk. O. Reg. 366/18, s. 15.
7. Winter Preparations
In the months prior to the start of the winter maintenance season, as identified in 3.7.0, the
Town of Saugeen Shores undertakes the following tasks to prepare for the upcoming winter
season:
7.1
Prior to the Winter Season
Prior to the winter season, the Town of Saugeen Shores will:
1) Conduct a mandatory training session for staff in October and contract
operators where all policies, procedures, schedules, reporting procedures for
callout, route maps,
equipment training and safety precautions will be
discussed. Any issues resulting from the meeting with regard to the policies,
procedures, schedules, reporting
procedures for callout, route maps,
equipment training and safety precautions shall be resolved either at the
meeting or prior to the winter season.
2) Train winter patrollers (or staff whose duties also include patrolling) on the route
of representative roads to be patrolled between winter events, their duties
during a winter event, recording keeping requirements and callout procedures
for the forecast weather conditions.
3) Inspect equipment to ensure proper working order. Schedule and complete any
14
and all equipment repairs.
4) Arrange for the delivery of materials (salt, sand and liquid solution) and begin
filling storage facilities.
5) Confirm that all guiderail, catch basin, hazard and fire hydrant markers, if any,
are in place. Any missing markers will be replaced prior to the winter session.
7.2
One Month Prior to the Winter Season
One month prior to the winter season the Town of Saugeen Shores will
1) Post the winter shift schedule in accordance with the municipality's collective
agreement, if any.
2) Assign equipment to staff.
3) Calibrate material application equipment.
4) Allow operators (staff and contract) time to familiarize themselves with any new
equipment, material application rates, material application equipment and their
route (driving the route and noting obstacles along the route).
5) Assign staff to monitor weather forecasts on a daily basis. Assign night patrol
shift if forecast indicates an overnight winter event is probable. The patrol
person will be authorized to initiate a winter event response if conditions
warrant a response.
6) Have 25% of the fleet ready to respond to a winter event by October 15th.
7) Have sufficient staff available to operate the fleet if conditions warrant a winter
event response.
7.3
Two Weeks Prior to the Winter Season
Two weeks prior to the winter season the Town of Saugeen Shores will:
1) Begin regularly scheduled night patrol of representative roads that are
maintenance class 2 roads.
2) Have the required complement of the fleet ready to respond to a winter event
by October 15.
3) Have staff available to operate the required complement of the fleet if
conditions warrant a winter event response.
7.4
At the Start of the Winter Season
At the start of the winter season:
1) Implement the winter shiftschedule.
2) Begin patrolling representative roads in all maintenance classes.
3) Respond to winter events as per the winter operations plan.
8. Operations
The following sections describe how the Town of Saugeen Shores works to meet
the maintenance standards. These routines are supported by policies and
procedures.
15
8.1
Winter Patrol
During the winter maintenance season, The Town of Saugeen Shores carries out
a winter patrol on a route of representative roads twice daily, 7 days a week.
Between winter events a patrol of representative roads will occur during daylight
hours and a second night patrol will also be scheduled. The purpose of the patrol
is to monitor and record weather and road conditions and mobilize winter
maintenance operators and equipment should a winter event be observed and a
winter event response is required.
On the approach of a winter event or during a winter event the route of
representative roads may be modified, insofar as reasonably practicable,
depending on the type and severity of winter event or the direction from which the
storm approaches.
The patrol person will be familiar with local conditions in their patrol area, and
prepare a condition log of road and weather conditions as well as any actions
taken during the shift. The winter patrol schedule parallels the designated winter
season.
At the time of writing this Operations Plan, it is contemplated to officially designate
the Winter Patroller with authority to issue parking tickets to enforce the wintertime
ban the on street parking. This would require an appropriate appointment bylaw,
8.2
Staffing and Hours of Work
The Town of Saugeen Shores has a full time employee assigned to each vehicle
used for winter operations. Each vehicle is assigned a route for sanding/salting
and/or plowing. The Town of Saugeen Shores adheres to the hours of service as
set out in the Highway Traffic Act, Reg.555/06, and in accordance with Hours of
Service Standard Operating Procedure (SOP PW 052) to ensure that this
standard is implemented
8.3
Training
The Town of Saugeen Shores provides winter operations training for all staff
involved in the delivery of winter services. It is compulsory for the municipal staff
to attend the training sessions.
Equipment Circle Check
Record Keeping
Health and Safety
Identification of Plow Routes - including variations for year to year and
issues identified along the route
Yard and Equipment maintenance
De-icing chemicals - application procedures, rates, storage and handling
8.4
Winter Materials
The Town of Saugeen Shores uses salt, and a sand salt mix for winter control.
16
Freeze/thaw cycles dictate the amount of salt and sand/salt mix used during each
event, but monitoring weather forecasts during road patrols. The rate of mixing
sand and salt is based on experience and the length of time between applications,
to create a clear road. The equipment is spreader controls to dictate the
application rates.
Table 5: Winter Materials Used Annually
Material
5 Year Average**
Rock salt (NaCl)
450 tonne
Sand
0 tonne
Sand and salt mix*
4,500 tonne
* Percentage of salt in sand/salt mix by weight 8 % (industry standard 2 to 5 %)
*** Percentage pre-treat material used 0 %
Table 6: Application Rates
Solids
Spreading Rates per 2 lane km
Highway Class
Salt
Sand/Salt Mix
CLASS1
--
--
CLASS2
--
--
CLASS3
100-200 kg
160-500 kg
CLASS4
100-200 kg
160-500 kg
CLASS5
100-200 kg
160-500 kg
CLASS6
100-200 kg
160-500 kg
(Note: MTO Maintenance Manual MBP-703 suggests 130 to 170 kg salt for paved
roads and 570 kg sand per 2 lane kilometer).
8.5
Equipment - Winter Maintenance Fleet
The municipality provides winter maintenance services with the equipment listed
below:
Table 7 Winter Maintenance Equipment
Route
Equipment ID
Description
PR1 - Southampton Township
1C
Tandem Axle Truck
17
Route
Equipment ID
Description
Combination Unit
PR2 - Southampton West
18C
Single Axle Truck
Combination Unit
PR3 - Southampton East
22C
Single Axle Truck
Combination Unit
PR4 - Port Elgin East
21C
Single Axle Truck
Combination Unit
PR5 - Port Elgin West
26C
Single Axle Truck
Combination Unit
PR6 - Port Elgin Southwest
20C
Single Axle Truck
Combination Unit
PR7 - Port Elgin Township South
2C
Tandem Axle Truck
Combination Unit
PR8 - Port Elgin Township North
1D
Grader
PR9 - Port Elgin North
25C
Single Axle Truck
Combination Unit
PR10 - Southampton Alleys, Lanes
1B
Pickup Truck Plow
Southampton Sidewalk West
85D
Trackless
Southampton Sidewalk East
14D
Trackless
Port Elgin Sidewalk Northwest
52D
Trackless
Port Elgin Sidewalk Northeast
8D
Trackless
Port Elgin Sidewalk Southwest
51D
Trackless
Port Elgin Sidewalk Southeast
86D
Trackless
Port Elgin Downtown/Parking Lots/Alleys
46D
Loader
Port Elgin Downtown/Parking Lots/Alleys
54D
Loader
Southampton Downtown/Parking Lots/Alleys
2D
Loader
Southampton Downtown/Parking Lots/Alleys
60D
Loader
Port Elgin Sander Truck
6B
Pickup Truck
Southampton Sander Truck
5B
Pickup Truck
Port Elgin Parking Lots/Cul-de-Sacs
61D
Skidsteer
Connecting Link
Contract
8.6
Yard Facilities
The municipality provides winter maintenance services from the patrol yards listed
below. Each patrol yard has a front end loader capable of loading the winter
maintenance fleet with sand or salt.
i. Concession 6 Yard
Equipment Storage Details: (5-bay pre-engineered steel building, paved lot)
All winter equipment is stored inside. The bays are equipped with an exhaust
ventilation system.
18
Material Storage Details: Sand salt mixture is stored in the dome and the salt is
stored in the salt shed. The sand salt dome is filled in the fall with conveyor and
stacker and provides sufficient material for the winter operations that are directed
from the Concession 6 Shop. The Salt shed is refilled when required depending on
winter conditions.
Site Drainage Details: The Concession 6 Shop drainage includes two positive
discharge points into open ditches that are conveyed from on-site collection
infrastructure.
ii. Peel Street Yard
Equipment Storage Details: (5-bay pre-engineered steel building, paved lot)
All winter equipment is stored inside the heated shop with the exception of the
backup plow and the 1 tonne parking lot sander. The bays are equipped with an
exhaust ventilation system.
Material Storage Details: Sand salt mixture is stored in the dome and the salt is
stored in the salt shed. The sand salt dome is filled in the fall with conveyor and
stacker and provides sufficient material for the winter operations that are directed
from the Peel Street Shop. The Salt shed is refilled when required depending on
winter conditions.
Site Drainage Details: Site drainage is good and mostly drains to Peel Steer via
sheet drainage. Some surface water at the rear of the property is directed to the
existing swale running northerly.
19
8.7
Snow Removal and Disposal
Operations staff and/or contractors (under contract with the Municipality) removes
and hauls snow to the sites listed in the table below when the accumulation of
piled snow impedes traffic on the road, limits snow storage capacities, affects core
area parking and/or sight lines at intersections.
Table 8 : Disposal Sites
Name
Location
Surface
Paved
Run Off
Controlled
Drainage/Run
Off
Surrounding Land
Use
Peel Street
Snow Dump
429 Peel
Street
N
Y
Melted snow is
directed to the
adjacent ditch
North: Vacant
South: Vacant
East: C
West: C
Concession
10 Snow
Dump
118
Concession
6
N
N
Melted snow
infiltrates into
native sandy
materials
North: R South: R
East: Vacant West:
Vacant
C = Commercial; R = Residential
8.8
Record Keeping
Full and accurate completion of the documents listed below, according to the
applicable procedures, ensures that the municipality is protected from liability by
providing solid documentation that procedures have been followed.
Staff is responsible for keeping the following records:
For Equipment Operators:
CVOR Time Documentation (Spreadsheet)
Materials used (sand, salt, liquids)
Route plowed (AVL)
Application Rate : Compuspread
For Patrollers:
Winter Patrol Record - AVL and Cityworks reports
Call Out Diary
Weather and/or RWIS Information Received (Paper and Cityworks Reports)
For Operations Supervisors:
Operations Diary
Incident/Collision Reports
Total materials used
20
Equipment Calibration Records
The date will be recorded as Day/Month/Year, in a numerical format (##/##/####).
The time is documented using the 24-hour clock format.
The original copy of documents shall be retained regardless of their appearance.
Writing must legible and written in ink. If a document requires correction, then a
line is to be placed through the incorrect information without making it illegible and
continue writing on the original document. Initial corrections or change in the color
of ink in a case where you change writing pens.
Records shall be completed daily and forwarded to the Supervisor weekly for
retention.
9. Communications
All winter maintenance vehicles are equipped with two way communications
(radios, cell
phone, etc.). Municipal staff is responsible for reporting changing winter weather
and/or road conditions as the changes are observed.
9.1
Call Out Procedures
Operational decisions will be made by the Public Works Manager or his/her
designate with the aid of available forecasting, level of service policy, patrolling,
etc. However, it should be emphasized that decisions will be subjective and
external input, whether in this plan or elsewhere, merely acts as an aid in
determining if a call out of staff and equipment by the Patrol Person to respond to
a winter event is warranted. It is vital, therefore, that the Patrol Person records the
prevalent conditions and relevant information when he/she makes a decision.
The patrol person shall inform the Public Works Manager of changing road and
weather conditions observed in the field. When a winter event response is required
the Patrol Person will contact the lead hands by phone. The lead hand will contact
staff as required the shift schedule and the direction given by the Supervisor.
9.2
Road Closure Procedures
In the event a defined road must be closed due to a severe winter storm, Saugeen Shores
Police Services will request signs be placed to close the road. Rb-92 Road Closed Signs
on portable stands, and barricades will be available at the patrol yard. Upon receiving a
request from Saugeen Shores Police Services to close a road to traffic, the Patrol
Supervisor or his/her designate will organize manpower and equipment to place the signs
and barricades. The Manager or his/her designate will contact Communications and
request that a media release be sent to the local news, radio stations and other designated
21
agencies advising of the road closure. Roads will be deemed to be closed once the signs
and barricades are placed. When it is physically impossible to place signs and barricades
to close a road, the Patrol Supervisor or his/her designate will so advise Saugeen Shores
Police Services).
The Town of Saugeen Shores also assists the area maintenance provide for the
MTO in closing sections of Highway 21 adjacent to the Saugeen Shores
Connecting Link. In the event Public Works is requested to erect signage for a
Highway 21 closure the request must come from the MTO Area Maintenance
Contract Provider.
Standard Operating Procedure SOP-PW-049 and SOP-PW-049 Form 1 are used
to implement road closures.
9.3
Declaring a Significant Weather Event
A municipality may declare a significant weather event in accordance with
Regulation 239/02 at any time in its sole discretion it elects to do so, and the
Towns Process is defined in the appropriate SOP.
10. Sand/Salt and Plow Routes
Appendix 3 contains image files of the sand/salt routes and plow routes.
10.1 Priority of Routes
The goal of meeting the minimum maintenance standards is complicated by the
requirements of the CVOR in terms of hours of work for the Operators. Hours at
work as well as hours driving are restricted with different time frames. The Town
runs only 1 shift Monday to Friday and clears the roads by call-outs Saturdays and
Sundays. Prioritizing routes is necessary to meet these obligations and is done
by monitoring weather forecasts, road patrols and observing how the snow is
redeposited on streets during the actual event.
10.2 Priority for Roadways
The primary priority for plowing is access to the Southampton Hospital on High
Street and Grey Street. Concession 10, Doll Side Road, Concession 14 and High
Street are the first roads to be patrolled and cleared.
The above is the defined alternate route for to provide a connection between Port
Elgin and Southampton, even with a closure of highway 21.
Access to EMS, Police and Fire services are also First Priority. This includes
plowing to clear the routes of emergency services during a snow event, and this
could mean other plow routes are deferred to provide this service.
22
The second priority is school zones, including the walking areas, and the
downtown areas. These areas may be cleared multiple times during an event
before tertiary roads, such as cul-de-sacs are cleared. Providing access to these
services as well as cross-town connections is the goal of the secondary priority
efforts.
Road conditions can dictate promotion or demotion of roads into different priority
areas. This is especially true for roads affected by winds and ice off the lake as
well as snow off open fields. Temporary closures of affected roads may be
required due to conditions but also to provide winter control for other roads of
higher priority.
Alleys and parking lots are all tertiary priority and are cleared once secondary
roads are clear. Minimum maintenance standards do not apply to parking lots and
therefore they may be cleared later than the tables for a Class 6 road.
23
10.3 Priority for Sidewalk
In Port Elgin, sidewalks are prioritized based on pedestrian traffic and their
proximities to facilities including schools and public buildings that need to be
accessed. In general sidewalks are prioritized as a lower priority than roads, with
the goal of providing safe roads firstly.
Sidewalks are classified into three priorities:
Primary - serviced first during a major snow event and includes School walking
routes and the downtown cores,
Secondary - serviced second during a major snow event and include all other
local or collector roads shown on the figure below.
Not Serviced - Sidewalks which are not provided with winter operations coverage
shall be permanently signed accordingly at each end. Criteria for inclusion in
the winter operations service are :
-If the sidewalk provides access to priority institutions (educational, health care
etc) or significant commercial areas, it would be appropriate to service it.
-Whether the sidewalk is on a road allowance that has been assumed.
-When two sidewalks exist on a roadway the Town has the discretion to provide
service to only one side.
-When the sidewalk does not connect in a meaningful way to the Town sidewalk
network, that local isolated sidewalk may not be serviced.
-When a section of sidewalk is difficult or time consuming to access, it may not be
serviced.
-When a section of sidewalk is on a grade preventing safe operation of a sidewalk
plow, or does meet the Town's standards, it may not be serviced.
24
11. Decommissioning Winter Operations
After the winter season (identified in 3.3.0) expires the Town of Saugeen Shores
undertakes the following tasks to decommission winter operations.
11.1 Two Weeks After the Winter Season Ends
Two weeks after the winter season ends:
1) Cease regularly scheduled winter night patrols;
2) Continue monitoring weather forecasts. Assign night patrol shift if forecast
indicates an overnight winter event is probable;
3) Decommission 50 % of the fleet.
11.2 One Month After the Winter Season Ends
One month after the winter season ends cease all winter highway maintenance
operations and decommission the remainder of the equipment providing weather
forecasts warrant the decommissioning.
12. MonitoringandUpdating
The purpose of monitoring and updating is to provide a basis for continuous
improvement of the winter operations plan and the winter maintenance policies
practices and procedures of the Town of Saugeen Shores.
Town staff monitor the winter operations and practices throughout the winter
season to ensure the standards are met as outlined in the Winter Operations Plan.
The below list includes the areas of continuous monitoring throughout the winter
operations:
25
Monitoring of material usage (salt and sand)
Monitoring of customer satisfaction (total number of relevant complaints regarding
winter operations)
Monitoring of the efficiencies of the existing plow routes
Monitoring of staff usage and compliance with health and safety/employment
regulations
Monitoring of the severity of the weather
At the end of the winter season, a meeting to review winter operations is held with
all winter operations staff to identify all issues that arose during the winter season
and discuss how they may be resolved.
Prior to the start of the next winter season and with sufficient lead time to
implement any changes, the Town of Saugeen Shores shall train staff on the
changes to equipment and/or winter maintenance policies, practices, and
procedures. At this time any requests from the public and council will be taken
into consideration for implementation into future Winter Operations Plan if
feasible.
On the basis of the following criteria, the Director of Operations will add on an
annual or as-needed basis, additional roads and sidewalks to the Plan:
Roads : Roads shall be added to the plan once formally assumed by the
municipality
Sidewalks : Sidewalks shall be added to the plan on the basis of the criteria
established in section "Priority for Sidewalks"
Amendments to the plan made on an annual or as-needed basis shall be
documented via addition to Table 3 and amendments to the relevant figures in the
Plan.
Winter Maintained Sidewalks - Port Elgin
Date Source: Town ct Saugeen Shores
and Bruce County
Datum: NAD 1983 17N
Production Date: March 2025
26
Appendix 1 - Winter Maintained Sidewalks
Winter Maintained Sidewalks - Southampton
Date Source: Town ct Saugeen Shores
and Bruce County
Datum: NAD 1983 17N
Production Date: March 2025
27
Night Shift Road Patrol Route
Date Source: Town of Saugeen Shores
and Bruce County
Datum: NAD 1983 17N
Production Date: March 2025
28
Appendix 2 - Route of Representative Roads For Road Patrol
Plow Routes - Port Elgin
Date Source: Town of Saugeen Shores
and Bruce County
Datum: NAD 1983 17N
Production Date: March 2025
29
Appendix 3: Plow Routes
Plow Routes - Southampton
Date Source: Town of Saugeen Shores
and Bruce County
Datum: NAD 1983 17N
Production Date: March 2025
30
Plow Routes - Township and Connecting Links
Date Source: Town of Saugeen Shores
and Bruce County
Datum:NAD 1983 17N
Production Date: March 2025
31
Winter Maintained Alleys, Lanes and Parking Lots - Port Elgin
Date Source: Town of Saugeen Shores
and Bruce County
Datum: NAD 1983 17N
Production Date: March 2025
32
Appendix 4: Winter Maintained Alleys and Parking Lots
Winter Maintained Alleys, Lanes and Parking Lots - Southampton
Date Source: Town of Saugeen Shores
and Bruce County
Datum:NAD 1983 17N
Production Date: March 2025
33
35
Appendix 5: Media Release Road Closure
Town of Saugeen Shores
Date
Time
Media Release
Due to a severe winter storm Saugeen Shores Police Services advise that the following roads in Town
of Saugeen Shores are impassable due to drifting and blowing snow and have been closed to
traffic.
Street Name
From
To
Saugeen Shores Police Services advise that these roads will remain closed until the storm subsides and
driving conditions improve.
36
Appendix 6: Media Release Severe Weather
Town of Saugeen Shores
600 Tomlinson Drive
Port Elgin, ON
519-832-2008
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
[date]
TOWN OF SAUGEEN SHORES DECLARES SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENT
(pursuant to s.16.9 of O. Reg. 239/02 as amended.)
Saugeen Shores, ON: The Town of Saugeen Shores is declaring a Significant Weather Event in respect to
Blowing snow
Starting at [insert time] and continuing until further notice.
Users of the roads and sidewalks in the municipality are advised to avoid unnecessary travel and to use caution
if doing so.
The Town will update the public when the significant weather event has ended, through the Town's website,
social media and through a news release to local media.
-30-
For more information:
Operations Department
Town of Saugeen Shores
519-832-2008 x 183
[email protected]
www.saugeenshores.ca
37
Appendix 7: Winter Daily Checklist
Name: ____________________________________
Date: ___________________________
Weather Conditions Report #1
Time: ____________________
Temp: ______ ⁰C
Wind Direction: ______
Wind Speed: ______ km/h
Rain: Yes ____ No ____ Freezing Rain: Yes ____ No ____ Snow: Yes ____ No _____
Weather Conditions Report #2
Time: ____________________
Temp: ______ ⁰C
Wind Direction: ______
Wind Speed: ______ km/h
Rain: Yes ____ No ____
Freezing Rain: Yes ____ No ____ Snow: Yes ____ No _____
*Weather conditions recorded twice during the day and twice during the night patrol to meet MMS
Road Patrol Report:
Urban Conditions: Time: ______
Road Conditions: Wet ____ Dry ____
Roads Closed: Yes ____ No ____
If yes, what roads are closed? ____________________________________________________________
Other conditions observed: ______________________________________________________________
Rural Conditions: Time: ______
Road Conditions: Wet ____ Dry ____
Roads Closed: Yes ____ No ____
If yes, what roads are closed? ____________________________________________________________
Other conditions observed: ______________________________________________________________
Winter Event Response:
Spot Response: Yes ____ No ____ Time ____
If yes, who was deployed: ________________________
Continuous Response: Yes ____ No ____ Time ____
Signature: _________________________________________________
Comments: ___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
38
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Appendix 8: Winter Night Patrol
Accident/Damage
Time
Time
Police Response yes
noPolice Report #
Time
Location
Time
Description
Time
Time
Time
Time
Time
NAME
High St
4
10-C
Albert St
3
9-C/10-C
Godreich St
3
6-C/7-C
6th Concession
3
12-C
Lake Range Road
3
8-C
Bruce Saugeen Ln
4
12-C
Concession #2
4
12-C
County Rd #25
3
8-C
County Road #17
3
1-D
Concession #8
5
1-D
Bruce Rd #3
3
1-D
River Road
6
1-D
10th Concession
4
11-C
Mackenzie Rd
5
7-C
Plex Parking Lot
N/A
Green St
5
6-C
North Shore Rd
5
11-C
South St
5
11-C/9-C
Carlisle St/Heli pad
4
11-C
High St
4
10-C
Eckford
5
9-C
Winter Patrol Record
Weather
Visibility Good Fair Poor
Wind Light Moderate Strong Direction _____
Date:
Patrolled by:
Clear
Partly Cloudy
Overcast
Rain
Snow
Freezing Rain
Air Temperature
Pavement Temperature
Fog
Approved by:
start shift
finish shift
TIME
Road Classification
Highway Patrolled (area)
Hours of Work
Drifting
Snow Covered
Condition Codes
√ Acceptable
X Needs Service
Time to be recorded
using a 24 hour
clock
Bare & Dry
Track Bare
Bare & Wet
Centre Bare
Snow Packed
Ambient Condition
Winter Event Condition
Sno
w Accumulati
on (cm)
Ice Covered
Notes & Plow Info
Spot Ice
Black Ice
Frost
Slush
conditio
n Acceptable o
r Needs service
PLOW ROUTE
Call Saugeen LH _____________ Call Southampton LH _____________