Snow Removal: Challenges and Changes

This month we have been getting a huge amount of snowfall and cold temperatures, and our roads have been struggling. I’ve been hearing frustration from a lot of residents, and I get it! I drive a Camry and live on a Priority 2 road (the ones struggling the most), so I am living this too. I appreciate all the questions and feedback I have received. Hearing about resident experiences is how we are able to make our systems better.

City crews are working through the weekend. Additionally, the removal cycle for non-priority residential roads is being paused so that contractors can be re-tasked to Priority roads. Work is underway to get the main roads through neighbourhoods into better shape. You can learn more about the shift happening heres://cityofgp.com/culture-community/news-events/news/transportation-and-parks/city-and-contracted-crews-redirect.

I appreciate this change in approach. However, we should’ve switched contractors over to Priority 2 roads sooner. I recognize the hard work of our front-line staff and acknowledge that management was carrying out the Council-approved plan for snow removal (and I especially appreciate all those working the Saturday before Christmas!). But Council should update its Snow and Ice Control Policy to allow for greater flexibility during months like this one when we see unusual amounts of snowfall. I’ll explain more on that below.

 I don't want to downplay the need to always be improving what we do. But I also want to provide context about what we are seeing this year, information about how our snow system is designed, and address a few inaccuracies I have seen floating around.

As always, after you give this a read: I welcome any thoughts or feedback you might have!

Please note: this is a personal page. I have not yet had a chance to ask staff at a Committee meeting for details about snow removal over the last week. If I get any information wrong, that is on me, not City staff. Any opinions expressed here belong to me, not to Council or the City.

WHY MAIN ROADS THROUGH NEIGHBOURHOODS ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW

Our snow control system and Service Levels are designed to keep Priority 1 roads as clear as possible during a big snowfall, get Priority 2 and Priority 3 roads clear as fast as possible after a snowfall ends, and to clear non-priority residential roads cost-effectively within two weeks of a big snowfall. However, the system isn't designed to accommodate the amount of continuous snowfall we have seen this month.

Because City crews have spent so much time on Priority 1 roads, many Priority 2 and 3 roads have not been reached. A quirk of our current system is that separate contracted crews handle non-priority roads, so those have been completed. This is leading to the main roads in neighborhoods (which are Priority 2) being in the worst shape, and to people who are used to having their road cleared early still waiting to see a plow. We need to fix the system to ensure Priority 2 roads still get attention when City crews are tied up with Priority 1 routes for extended periods.

Here is how our current system works in residential neighbourhoods:

  • Priority 1 Roads (main arterial roads such as Wapiti Road, 116 Ave, etc): these are cleared by City crews, often running 24/7. Work starts as soon as snow begins. Crews keep on these roads until the snow has stopped AND the roads are clear. If snow starts falling again, crews are pulled from other work to return to Priority 1 roads. The expectation is that they are clear within 24 hours after snow stops falling.

  • Priority 2 (collector roads, usually the main roads through neighbourhoods): These are also handled by City crews. The expectation is that these are cleared within 5 days AFTER Priority 1 roads are finished. However, if crews start on Priority 2 roads and it begins to snow again, they return to Priority 1 routes even if there are Priority 2 roads still unplowed.

  • Non-Priority Residential Roads (neighbourhood roads that are NOT part of the Priority 2 network): These are done by contractors. Once we have 10cm of accumulation, Residential Removal is declared. It is completed on a 2-week cycle that continues uninterrupted, even if it snows again.

This is based on Council Policy 606, which you can read here.

In typical years, City crews get to Priority 2 roads before or very early in the residential cycle. But this year, those crews keep getting pulled back to Priority 1 roads due to persistent snow. We now have a situation where low-traffic, non-priority roads have been done once by contracted crews, while many higher-traffic Priority 2 roads have not been reached at all due to City crews being busy elsewhere. All residents are struggling as they cross treacherous Priority 2 roads to get through their neighbourhoods. And those living on Priority 2 roads are understandably upset as they are used to seeing their roads cleared much earlier.

WHAT IS CHANGING AND WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE

City crews are working through the weekend on Priority 1, 2, and 3 roads.

Originally, the City announced that another round of residential snow removal using contractors would start Monday. This is how Policy 606 is written. But it would mean some non-priority roads would get plowed for a second time before many Priority 2 roads had seen their first plow. This would have been especially problematic with more snow in the forecast, which would again require City crews to return to Priority 1 roads. Management has made the decision to postpone the next round of removal for non-priority residential roads. Instead, contractors will help City staff get caught up on Priority roads. This should allow the main roads through neighbourhoods to be plowed in the next few days. The regular residential cycle will then resume on Dec 29. 

This was a smart pivot by management. Since it goes against regular Council-approved practice, I understand why it wasn’t done immediately. But next time we have a month like this, we need to get contractors helping with Priority roads quicker. Early in the New Year, I hope Council will revisit Policy 606. We could add language to direct flexibility during continuous snowfall, or explicitly change the policy to postpone residential removal when Priority 2 roads have gone untouched for a certain amount of time. I look forward to that conversation.

ABOUT WEATHER THIS YEAR

It is worth noting that this month has been particularly challenging. 19 days into December, we have already had 59.4cm of snow. For context, in the "worst" months of the previous three seasons, the totals were 66.7cm, 15.5cm, and 51cm. We have also had fewer days between major snowfalls, with an average of only 3 days between 5cm events this month. Additionally, we've had 11 days where temperatures were too cold for salt to be effective and cold enough for equipment to struggle.

Here is a chart comparing this December to the worst months we have had over the past three snow seasons:

A few notes:

-This is comparing only 19 days in December to entire months in other years.

-I took the data from https://climate.weather.gc.ca/historical_data/search_historic_data_e.html

-To figure out the “worst” months over the past 3 snow seasons, I selected the month with the most snowfall

Unusual years will always create challenges. All equipment the City owns or can contract is being used as much as possible. However, our community generally has enough equipment to support operations during average to slightly above-average years. Unless we want to spend a significant amount of money purchasing excess “just in case” equipment, resources will be stretched thin when weather gets unusually extreme. I’d also note that I received more negative than positive feedback when Council decided to slightly increase Levels of Service for snow removal in 2026. Personally, with controlling taxes being a major priority, I don’t see myself supporting the purchase of a large amount of extra equipment.

That being said, we should always be looking to maximize the impact of the equipment we already have.

SPEAKING TO A FEW INACCURACIES

I have seen a few inaccuracies floating around in the current discussion. To address those:

  • THERE IS A NIGHT SHIFT FOR CITY CREWS. During and after a big snow event, all City equipment runs 24/7. Priority roads are cleared overnight and through the weekend. Non-priority residential roads often don’t get cleared overnight because most people wouldn’t appreciate a plow right out front at 2am.

  • THERE ARE CONTRACTORS TOO. During major snow events, the City runs all its equipment at max capacity and hires contractors. However, these contractors have other customers, especially on evenings and weekends when businesses need their lots cleared. The City is making full use of qualified contractor availability.

  • THERE HAS BEEN NO BUDGET REDUCTION OR SERVICE LEVEL CUT. The same resources are available as in past years; they have not been reduced. We are simply dealing with a massive amount of snow and extreme cold this year, which spreads those resources much thinner.

LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES

I spend a lot of time visiting cities across Alberta. Coincidentally, I have been in 5 separate Alberta cities over the last week and took the time to drive through their side roads. I also regularly talk to Mayors and Councillors about what is going on in their communities. From what I have seen, Grande Prairie maintains a higher level of snow service than many other Alberta cities. However, we can always get better! I am always on the lookout for best practices. If you know of a city with similar temperatures, neighbourhood design and snowfall that you think we should learn from, I’d love to know.

That is some information and thoughts about snow removal. Thanks for reading! As always, please share your questions and feedback. I’m happy to discuss them online, or even better, meet for a coffee.

-Dylan

Dylan BresseyComment