I'm living in Edmonton right now and snow removal is something they handle much better than Calgary. In three days I saw more snow plows on side streets than I saw in 10 years in Calgary.
I, for one, wouldn't be willing to pay higher taxes for better snow removal. The reasons why start with what I drive. Got the 4x, and now, thanks to the incessant whining of CP, I've got snow tires. In other words, I feel invincible. But more important than that, even the clearest roads will still be littered with strugglers. They'll still drive 20 in a 50, or 30 in an 80. So if I still have to put up with the aggravation of sharing the road with these people, why should I arbitrarily pay more?
AFAIC, if you can't get off your street, that's one less person I see on the road.
Agreed! Furthermore, we had our street plowed and all it did was make a bigger, and much more difficult, pile of snow to try and drive your vehicle out of. In my opinion icy side streets are of very little concern when it comes to the traffic flow of an entire city. Now if you live on a hill that's another story but last time I checked all the hills around my place have been plowed and sanded.
Would I pay $10-$20 a year to have the streets plowed? Sure, but only so I don't have to listen to people complain anymore. However if it's $100-$200? Not a chance!
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Exp:
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Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse
Some interesting comments from the Boss of Plowing in Calgary
I'd be curious to see the context and timing of that article. The "plowing of residential streets" plans I saw included plowing of all streets 20 times per year. I would be happy with 2-3 times per year; after every 25 cm of snow. Especially the snow we have now which fell along with temps below -20; that snow is good an frozen and won't be going away anytime soon.
Going back to their cuts of meat, they are offerring us either ground beef or AAA tenderloin. How about a nice sirloin a couple of times per year? It wouldn't take much- just have a rotation in place where residential streets get plowed just like the spring time street sweeping.
Someone going 20 in a 50 is quite annoying I agree but it's not the main reason for traffic tie ups. It's usually an accident or a stalled car blocking a lane. I'm against the 50$ but if it will for sure prevent accidents and people leaving for work an hour early and coming home for dinner an hour late then maybe.
Going back to their cuts of meat, they are offerring us either ground beef or AAA tenderloin. How about a nice sirloin a couple of times per year? It wouldn't take much- just have a rotation in place where residential streets get plowed just like the spring time street sweeping.
Agreed. They just don't seem to be able to think like this though.
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Yawn. Are people willing to pay higher taxes to pay for it? No.
Reminds of of the people that bitch at airlines when they bought the cheapest ticket (ie Thomas Cook or Transat) and wonder why service is so bad.
The problem is people would rather whine instead of paying an extra $2/month to double the snow removal budget. Why try to solve the problem when it's easier to whine and complain?
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The problem is people would rather whine instead of paying an extra $2/month to double the snow removal budget. Why try to solve the problem when it's easier to whine and complain?
Do me a favour and show me how you came up with that number.
The problem is people would rather whine instead of paying an extra $2/month to double the snow removal budget. Why try to solve the problem when it's easier to whine and complain?
17th Ave SE from Chestermere into Calgary has been brutal, no accidents, road clean, but 30km/hr the whole way until you pass 68th, then it's fine.
Well this morning I was behind some old lady doing 30 the whole way with no cars in front of her, so yes sometimes it is the slow person causing the whole traffic problem.
EDIT: And I'm onboard with the Dome idea.
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The problem is people would rather whine instead of paying an extra $2/month to double the snow removal budget. Why try to solve the problem when it's easier to whine and complain?
From post #199
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That is a distance shorter than Calgary's priority one roads.
Calgary spends $23 per capita on winter maintenance costs,compared to $62 in Edmonton, $44 in Winnipeg and $25 in Saskatoon.
Ok, so the budget is $23 per capita and doubling would be ~$2/month per capita. However, taxes aren't per capita. How many tax payers are in this city? Assuming a family of 4, would you pay ~$100 a year to double the snow plowing budget? Better yet would you pay ~$160 a year to get it to the level of Edmonton's snow removal budget? (Edmonton being chosen because it was referenced a few posts up) I know the 5-10 minutes that I've lost in traffic this winter as a direct result of bad roads certainly isn't worth $160! (I'm aware I'm also in the minority when it comes to road use...)
Maybe we can get a poll? How much would you pay for Snow Removal? 0-20, 20-40, 40-60, etc... Obviously a thread for people to complain about snow removal is going to make it appear that everyone but city council wants more plows. A simple poll might show how many lurkers there are that quite honestly just don't care!
yeah, except if they don't find a way to do it without raising taxes or cutting other programs we'll start a petition for that too.
Reminds me of the Simpsons episode "Much Apu About Nothing" where they introduce the bear tax and then when they do all the people of Springfield almost riot at city hall and chant down with taxes.
The mob is back, yelling "Down with taxes! Down with taxes!"
Quimby: Are those morons getting dumber or just louder? Assistant: [checks his clipboard] Dumber, sir.
