Expect a sloppy and slow morning commute, officials warn as Toronto gets another dump of snow
CBC
Expect a sloppy morning commute, officials are warning, as Toronto got another dump of snow overnight.
The snowfall isn't much compared to the storm that hit the city two weeks ago, but the fresh snow is landing on large frozen puddles and icy windrows, alike.
There are no reports of school closures at this time and the Toronto District School Board, the region's largest, confirmed buses are running. The board also warned of potential delays due to weather.
Ontario Provincial Police already warned about at least one vehicle spinning out on Highway 401, near Highway 427, and urged anyone who gets stuck to call 511.
Environment Canada is also warning drivers there could be hazardous conditions.
That said, "the worst has passed," said Peter Kimbell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, noting the GTA probably got less snow than was expected.
The TTC said it has shut down Line 3 — the Scarborough RT — during the blast of winter weather "until further notice." Shuttle buses are running instead of trains. Meanwhile, there's at least one other detour, so commuters may want to check ahead.
Here's today's forecast, according to Environment Canada:
Barbara Gray, the city's transportation manager, urged drivers to take their foot off the gas during the morning commute.
Crews were out overnight, she confirmed, clearing both the new snow and chipping away at the residual ice.
The city's been conducting "extensive" snow removal in recent weeks, Gray added, with much of the snow being piled up in a large mountain on Transit Road.
That snow removal has been paused while plowing takes precedent today.
On Wednesday night, city councillors pressed city staff for answers about why it's taken weeks to deal with the snow from the historic storm that hit Toronto two weeks ago. Many said they've faced sharp criticism from the public.
"A lot of people don't trust the city" when it comes to snow-clearing, Coun. Josh Matlow said during the debate.
'It's our space': Thunder Bay residents rally to save parkette as city aims to sell land for housing
Residents of a small southside neighbourhood in Thunder Bay, Ont., say they're willing to fight once again to save their parkette from being sold by the city and redeveloped into housing.