Let it snow – Vaughan is ready to go!
Learn more about our winter operations and the important role you play
The City of Vaughan’s Public Works team prepares for winter long before the snow hits the ground. Keeping the community safe, informed and moving throughout the winter is one of our top priorities.
Rest assured – the City is ready to respond to whatever the season brings as crews gear up for the first flurries!
Our fleet of more than 230 vehicles is on standby and ready to service the more than 2,200 lane kilometres of roads, more than 1,200 kilometres of sidewalks, park walkways and cycle lanes, and 145 City-owned facilities in our community. Whether removing snow and ice from roads, paths, sidewalks or windrows, our crews work hard to ensure everyone can travel safely throughout Vaughan.
Vaughan is made up of both local and regional roads, and the City works closely with York Region to ensure our road network is safe and clear all winter long. The City is responsible for municipal roads, while York Region is responsible for regional roads in Vaughan, such as Major Mackenzie Drive, Rutherford Road, Bathurst Street, Keele Street and Dufferin Street. For a full list of regional roads, visit york.ca/roads.
The City provides a variety of winter maintenance services, including:
Anti-icing
Before a snowfall or storm, the City prepares roads by spraying brine on the surface to prevent the formation of black ice. Brine is a liquid made of rock salt and water that works immediately as a barrier and remains active on the road for several days, so precipitation doesn't stick to the road and slippery conditions are avoided.
Watch this video to see an anti-icing truck in action.
Salting
Salt is applied to roads and sidewalks to address snow or ice buildup. The City uses an award-winning artificial intelligence-based tool called the Maintenance Decision Support System to help our operators use the right amount of salt required for each winter storm.
Since adopting this innovative technology in 2018, the City has decreased salt usage by more than 100 tonnes per salting event. This system saves the City money and is good for the environment as it reduces the amount of salt that could enter the stormwater system – and subsequently, bodies of water – through catch basins. Vaughan was the first municipality in Canada to incorporate this technology into its salting operations.
Watch this video to see a salting truck in action.
Plowing
Plowing begins as soon as five centimetres (two inches) of snow have accumulated. We aim to plow all municipal roads within 16 hours after a snowfall ends. Main roads are plowed first to keep them clear for emergency and transit vehicles before moving to residential areas. Main roads are completed within four hours after a snowfall has ended and residential roads are completed within 12 hours.
Watch this video to see a plow in action.
Windrow clearing
The City offers a windrow-clearing service to all homes to clear a portion of the driveway entrance so a car can drive through. This service is completed up to four hours after a snowplow has passed. Due to the limited size and reach of the windrow machines, they can only clear a portion of the driveway entrance – residual amounts of snow may be left behind. Please note, the City’s windrow service does not clear windrows left by sidewalk plows and does not clear hardened snow, ice or the entire driveway.
Watch this video to see a windrow-clearing machine in action.
Sidewalks
Sidewalk clearing involves salting and plowing along City sidewalks and pathways. The City clears sidewalks along both main roads and residential roads.
Sidewalks on main roads are serviced first. During heavy snowfall or Significant Weather Events, main sidewalk routes may be salted and plowed more than once before moving on to sidewalks in residential areas. After that, plows service paths and walkways within parks.
You can help our winter operations run smoothly!
We all have a role to play during the winter months to keep our city safe and moving. Here’s how you can do your part:
Don’t park cars on the street while snowplows are out – this will help the City clear streets properly and safely. On-street parking is not permitted between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. any time of the year in Vaughan. As outlined in the City’s Parking By-law 064-2019 (PDF), on-street parking that interferes with snow-clearing operations is prohibited. Vehicles found in violation may be subject to a $85 fine or towed at the owner’s expense.
Clear snow and ice from sidewalks bordering your property to help ensure they remain safe, as stated in the City’s Snow Clearing By-law 227-2022 (PDF).
On waste collection days, set waste bins back from the curb approximately one metre on the right-hand side of your driveway (when facing the home), where possible. They should never be placed on top of or behind snowbanks.
Keep fire hydrants clear and accessible (one metre all around). Blocked, concealed or difficult-to-access fire hydrants can impede emergency fire response.
Help keep catch basins and culverts near your property clear of snow, ice and debris to prevent potential flooding during temperature fluctuations, if it’s safe to do so.
Remove anything from your property that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews. This includes landscaping features, such as fencing, decorative stones, pots, bird baths, furniture and more, as stated in the City’s Encroachment By-law 034-2017 (PDF). These items should not be within 30 centimetres (12 inches) of a sidewalk or one metre (3½ feet) of a street curb.
Be mindful of where shovelled snow is placed. It is illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and the City’s Dumping By-law 103-2020 (PDF). That goes for any private contractors you hire, too!
Clean snow off all vehicle surfaces before driving and keep a safe distance from snowplows and salting equipment.
Stay informed!
For more information on the City’s winter maintenance program, visit vaughan.ca/snow. For additional details and to receive the latest information on Vaughan’s winter operations:
create a profile on vaughan.ca and sign up for the “Snow Information Alert” to receive snow alerts directly in your inbox. Visit vaughan.ca/support for a step-by-step guide.
contact the SNOW hotline at 905-879-SNOW (7669) or email snow@vaughan.ca.
follow the City’s official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
subscribe to Vaughan News.
QUOTE
“No matter the winter weather, the City of Vaughan’s crews are ready. They plow, salt, brine and clear windrows to ensure everyone in our community can travel safely throughout the city. I want to thank the City’s dedicated Public Works team who works day and night to keep our roads clear and our roads safe. You have an incredibly important job to do, making a true difference in the lives of our residents and enhancing the overall quality of life in our city.”
– Mayor Steven Del Duca
QUICK FACTS
The City of Vaughan provides residents with a high level of winter maintenance services. Whether it’s reducing ice and snow on roads or clearing it from paths, sidewalks and windrows, the City’s crews strive to ensure everyone can travel safely throughout Vaughan despite the weather.
The City has a fleet of more than 230 vehicles – including salter/snowplow units, windrow machines, sidewalk machines, pickup trucks equipped with plows and salters, cul-de-sac-clearing machines and anti-icing units – to ensure residents are provided with high-quality winter services. The City uses this equipment to service more than 2,200 lane-kilometres of roads, more than 1,200 kilometres of sidewalks, park walkways and cycle lanes, and 145 City-owned facilities.
LEARN MORE
The City of Vaughan’s winter maintenance webpage
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