The City of Greater Sudbury has heard loud and clear that residents want better sidewalk conditions during the winter months, but it’ll be largely status quo this season.
On Feb. 16, Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer requested a business case for improved winter sidewalk maintenance standards, a preliminary version of which was tabled last week.
“It was speaking to staff after the meeting, and we’re looking to make some changes, but they probably won’t occur in this budget year,” Sizer said today, adding that it’ll probably be another season until decisions on budgetary changes are made.
The report itself notes the business case “would be a large undertaking that would require a considerable amount of research, analysis and citizen engagement which could not be appropriately completed prior to the 2022 budget submission.”
For now, Sizer said he hopes to see as many “quick fixes” occur as possible that don’t carry a cost, and that improvements to service levels will likely be considered for the following season.
“I would like to see more maintenance done quicker,” he said, adding that the current threshold before sidewalk plowing takes place, of eight centimetres of snow depth to be cleared within 48 hours of the end of a snow event, isn’t good enough.
Integral behind the push for safer winter sidewalks is the fittingly named grassroots group, Greater Sudbury Safer Sidewalks.
“We, as a group, felt that there were issues with the sidewalks that could be addressed to make walking much safer in the city,” co-founder Maria Bozzo said, who wrote a letter to the editor for Sudbury.com earlier this year outlining their efforts.
The group also wrote a series of columns over the summer detailing the issue with winter sidewalk maintenance that included feedback from Sudburians whose mobility is limited by inadequate snow and ice clearing (you can check out one of those here, and search “safer sidewalks” on Sudbury.com to find all four columns).
Bozzo’s interest in safer sidewalks hit the public advocacy stage after she fractured her arm as a result of a slip on a sidewalk that had hidden ice under the snow.
The group first reached out to city council last autumn in preparation for 2021 budget deliberations, which resulted in Sizer’s business case request currently being drafted.
Their general message is that sidewalk clearing standards need to be improved.
“We’d just like to see the clearing happen sooner,” she said, sharing in Sizer’s view that the eight-centimetre threshold is inadequate.
“More and more people are just walking for general health and well-being — especially with the pandemic, with everyone being stuck inside, getting out in your neighbourhood became the way to get exercise and fresh air and to stay active,” she said.
“We’re going into another year where people may not travel to Florida, so they’re here, and people in some cases are avoiding transit for fear of exposure, so it’s a big deal for people to be able to get out safely and walk in this city.”
Despite her hope that more would happen sooner, Bozzo said there are some quick fixes they would like to see take place this season, which include:
- Improved drainage to prevent pooling, such as clearing gaps in snowbanks to allow for drainage.
- Repair dips around storm grates where water pools and becomes ice patches in the winter.
- Clear away slush on warm days and during melt events to prevent the creation of ice and uneven surfaces.
- Regularly train snowplow operators and private contractors on best practices.
One key piece of advice Bozzo said any resident can employ is to phone 311 whenever they’re faced with a potential sidewalk hazard.
“311 is the best service that the city has in place for the average citizen,” she said, adding that it’s a means of speaking directly with city staff about whatever issues they might experience.
A recent survey conducted by the city, in which approximately 2,400 people responded, found that 89 per cent of respondents were unaware they could request a sidewalk be reviewed for potential winter maintenance.
Greater Sudbury Safer Sidewalks also hosted a recent survey, in which 428 respondents listed the biggest barriers facing them on winter sidewalks as being ice and slippery conditions (91 per cent), uneven surfaces (81 per cent) and piles of snow blocking their way (77 per cent).
Of respondents who use a wheelchair, scooter, walker, cane or stroller, 90 per cent said sidewalk plowing should begin at two centimetres of snow depth.
The municipality maintains approximately 350 kilometres of sidewalks each winter under an Active Transportation Winter Maintenance Policy, which sets current standards for maintenance.
“Sidewalks need to be a priority the same as roads,” Bozzo said. “They’re not at present, and we keep pushing for trails, we keep pushing for well-being, to get outside, for exercise; well, what better exercise is there than walking around in your neighbourhood? You don’t have to take a car to go anywhere to park, you get to see your neighbours; to socialize.”
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
