Edmonton adopts new snow-clearing tactics after last winter's bumps

After shovelling more than $5 million back into its snow and ice clearing budget, the City of Edmonton is promising to better maintain streets and sidewalks during the long, icy season ahead.

With streets already slick and dusted with white, city officials held a news conference Friday, announcing a slate of new measures aimed at keeping snow-clearing operations running smoothly this winter.

The changes include new service targets for priority routes, a live-tracking map for city plows, and the promise that a large loop of high-traffic bike lanes will be prioritized for plowing. 

Craig McKeown, branch manager of parks and roads services, said the new strategies will better target the city's 12,000 kilometres of roads and 500 kilometres of public pathways. 

"Last winter was tough, we all know it. We recognize the tough conditions," McKeown said.

"This year, we'll be responding to residential areas in real time, looking at various equipment to use to avoid any mobility issues in those residential areas, and doing more grooming in between those parking bans."

In winter 2022-23, the city's 311 service received 23,559 calls related to snow and ice control.

Carol Maser, an Edmonton resident and home-care worker, said she is skeptical that any improvements will be seen this winter.

She said snow-clearing is a source of frustration every winter and she can't fathom why it can take weeks to clear certain streets. 

"They say they're going to sand the roads and all that. When? Springtime?

"We're a winter city," Maser said from a parking lot in south Edmonton Friday, as she took a breaking from driving clients around the city.

"Get out there and do it, for crying out loud."

A failure to meet service targets last winter was blamed on a lack of money and staffing shortages. Then, budget constraints threatened to further undercut service levels this winter.

The city was looking at a budget cut that would have seen bus stops and some public paths waiting to be cleared for upwards of 22 days after a snowfall, up from a target of 13 days last winter.