City Snow Plowing- is it enough?

[ken0042]

There was in interesting piece on Global News last night regarding the how much the city spends on snow removal, and what we could spend to have all the streets plowed.

http://www.canada.com/globaltv/calga...46cbcf&k=80687

The one thing they bring up is the additional cost of $15M to plow all streets after every snowfall; which works out to $40 per household. The city contends that they conducted a survey and found we didn't want to spend extra, but if it's the same survey that I'm thinking of, the question was vague; something like "would you be willing to spend more tax dollars for improved services like (random item), (random item), snow removal, (random item), and (random item.) And 2/3 of us said no.

I'm even thinking that side streets don't need to be plowed after every snowfall; even once per month would be fine.

There's also a poll on Global's main page. Just be careful, as the voting buttons for me showed up like a Florida ballot.

[Canada 02]

I wonder if the city can get the insurance companies on board. If all the streets are plowed, there will likely be fewer accidents and insurance payouts. Wonder if the cost/benefit is there

[Bobblehead]

The biggest issue I can see with plowing the sidestreets is all the on-street parking. My street is packed and people don't clear the street for the annual street sweeping, let alone for some unknown moment a plow may come by.

[GirlySports]

Do they sand the streets anymore? I can't recall the streets ever being as slippery as they've been this week.

[Mccree]

I think the city has done a poor job with the streets this winter. I can live with the side streets not being plowed but to have streets like Country Hills Blvd, Beddington Blvd, Shanganppi (SP) not plowed (OR AT THE VERY LEAST SANDED) is a really poor job.

Actually I even thought Deerfoot was aweful yesterday (But I think the province is in charge of that).

I think $40/year in taxes is better than the few hundred in increased insurance premiums.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Do they sand the streets anymore? I can recall the streets being as slippery as they've been this week.

I've seen plows and sanders but with the nonstop snow it doesn't seem to last very long.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

The biggest issue I can see with plowing the sidestreets is all the on-street parking. My street is packed and people don't clear the street for the annual street sweeping, let alone for some unknown moment a plow may come by.

Stateside people are required to remove their cars from the streets after a snowfall. Any car that isn't moved is towed.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Do they sand the streets anymore? I can't recall the streets ever being as slippery as they've been this week.

Yeah they do, but they sure as hell didn't do it this AM.

Glenmore/Crowchild/University drive was completely slick.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Dion

Stateside people are required to remove their cars from the streets after a snowfall. Any car that isn't moved is towed.

I don't think that would work here. Where would all those cars go? The alley could hand many of them but definitely not all.

And in those places how many snowfalls do they get that require plowing? If it is 1 or 2 a year, perhaps. We have had snow on and off for 8 straight days now.

I grew up in London On and there was no street parking allowed from 2-6am, but most homes have driveways so it isn't really too much of an inconvenience.

[MacDougalbry]

Wow, it was a real challenge getting out of the West Springs/Strathcona/Coach Hill area this morning...

I don't really expect them to sand every side street, in fact, I'd rather just see them focus on keeping main streets sanded, plowed, and safe.

Whatever money the city saves using its current low-cost road clearing strategy is a false savings to the Citizens of Calgary. You might save $40 on taxes, but your car insurance is probably higher than it would be if the city were more agressive about keeping roads clear and safe. Not to mention the amount of time (and cost to employers because of employee absenteeisim) that people would save on mornings like today where there is traffic mayhem.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I would happily pay an extra $40 for complete plowing

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I don't think that would work here. Where would all those cars go? The alley could hand many of them but definitely not all.

And in those places how many snowfalls do they get that require plowing? If it is 1 or 2 a year, perhaps. We have had snow on and off for 8 straight days now.

I grew up in London On and there was no street parking allowed from 2-6am, but most homes have driveways so it isn't really too much of an inconvenience.

I agree it wouldn't work here. I used to live on a bus route and people always scrambled to find places to park their cars when the plows came. Problem is you never knew when they were coming and sometimes you'd come home to find your car plowed in.

My brother lives in Minneapolis where it tends to snow alot. Been down a few times in past winters and was amazed at how quickly all streets were plowed. At least there residents are given advance warning of when streets are going to be plowed. Then I thought that if it snows a foot or two as it can down there, how they hell do you move your car.

[Draug]

Never mind side streets... they dont even plow major routes any more.

In well over half of the snowfalls this year, Crowchild wasnt even plowed a full 12 hours after the snow. It is a total joke.

The lost productivity from people sitting on snowy roads is astounding. Can you even imagine how much it costs to have everyone an hour late for work, for even one day?

The side streets dont need to be plowed. There is no traffic, so people can just muddle their way through the deep snow. Perhaps, they should be plowed once they get to the point of solid pot hole filled ice if a chinook hasnt done the job already.

[Resolute 14]

Well, it sure doesn't help whan ambulances crash into snow plows, as happened this morning.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Council loves to throw out big, scary numbers. $15M per snowfall, eek! Perhaps simply improving the existing service should be examined, instead of fear-mongering? I would happily pay the $40 for every road, or some amount between $0-40 for enhanced service on major roads.

The city can do better. Much better.

[Resolute 14]

The funny thing is, while most of us will gladly pay the extra $40 for complete coverage, when the city proposes a modest tax increase that wouldnt amount to much more than that same $40, everyone goes ballistic.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Draug

Never mind side streets... they dont even plow major routes any more.

In well over half of the snowfalls this year, Crowchild wasnt even plowed a full 12 hours after the snow. It is a total joke.

The lost productivity from people sitting on snowy roads is astounding. Can you even imagine how much it costs to have everyone an hour late for work, for even one day?

The side streets dont need to be plowed. There is no traffic, so people can just muddle their way through the deep snow. Perhaps, they should be plowed once they get to the point of solid pot hole filled ice if a chinook hasnt done the job already.

I think the problem is with the City not having enough equipment to get the major routes plowed in a timely fashion. It seems to take forever as you say to get these routes done.

[browna]

This is also as much snow as I have seen in a few years..every day for the last 5 or 6 there's enough snow that falls over 6 hours to cover the car.

Usually, we get a big dump, and it may stay cold, but the snow stops after 1 or 2 days and nights.

This week, its just been constant falling snow, which is a big part of the issue that makes the roads worse then usual in the last week since the usually good city crews can't keep up.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

The funny thing is, while most of us will gladly pay the extra $40 for complete coverage, when the city proposes a modest tax increase that wouldnt amount to much more than that same $40, everyone goes ballistic.

Quoted For Truth

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I don't think that would work here. Where would all those cars go? The alley could hand many of them but definitely not all.

Well, in my neighbourhood they would have to crack down on the people who get rid of their rear parking pad to make their yard bigger. In Winnipeg there are times when there is an "overnight parking ban" and if you are parked on the street you will get towed. To me, this would end up being the bigger sell than the $40 per year.

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Council loves to throw out big, scary numbers. $15M per snowfall, eek!

Just to clarify, that is $15M per year. Global based that on $625K per snowfall and 24 snowfalls per year.