The City of Fort St. John Public Works Department has the responsibility for snow removal and ice control on 120.5 km of streets and 49.2 km of sidewalks and walkways. 

Our goal is to reduce the inconvenience of winter conditions for motorists and pedestrians to the greatest degree possible within our financial resources; to minimize economic loss to the community; prevent or reduce accidents or injuries; and facilitate the operation of the Transit, Fire, Police, and Ambulance Services.

Please remember that snow removal and ice removal and ice control cannot restore summer driving conditions and extra defensive driving practices are required when operating a vehicle under winter conditions.

Snow & Ice Control Policy

A Policy respecting snow and ice control was adopted by the city in 1988 to regulate the levels of service and priorities of the street clearing within the City. That policy is updated on a regular basis to reflect the desires of the city's residents and changes in the equipment holdings. The policy gives first priority to major thoroughfares followed by transit routes, the downtown core, collector streets, local streets and finally lanes in Multi Family zoned areas. These priorities are established to provide the greatest benefit to the majority of the traveling public and take into consideration items such as traffic volume, road classification and special conditions such as terrain, transit, drift exposure, etc.

The snow and ice control plan recognizes that plowing and sanding cannot eliminate all hazardous winter driving conditions and sets the level of service to permit motorists and pedestrians to travel with a reasonable degree of mobility using a reasonable amount of caution.
 

Snow Control Operations

City snow control is provided by the Municipal Public Works Department supplemented with rented private sector equipment.  Scheduled night shift work hours are 5:00 pm to 1:30 am Tuesday to Saturday.  Regular day shift work hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday. This shift concentrates on all routes and sidewalks.  During snow emergencies and major storms, snow control services operate 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week.

We believe that we are currently providing the highest standard of snow removal of any similar sized community located in northern Alberta and B.C. The new policies and procedures allow us to Plow all streets within 32 hours after a major snowfall - prior practices took 15 days. We anticipate that we can improve upon that time frame and will strive to institute improvements in all facets of the snow removal operations.
 

Plowing Schedule

Priority 1 - All Major Thoroughfares
Priority 2 - Transit Routes
Priority 3 - Downtown Core
Priority 4 - Residential, Commercial and Industrial Collectors
Priority 5 - Remaining Residential, Commercial and Industrial
Priority 6 - Commercial and Multi - Family Lanes

Many of our streets have to be plowed and the snow loaded into trucks and removed to snow dumps on the same day. The majority of the streets in the downtown core, 93rd Avenue by North Peace Secondary School, 86th Street by Robert Ogilvie School, 110th Avenue in the vicinity of 100th Street and 114 A Avenue by Bert Ambrose School are haul off locations.
 

Sidewalk Clearing

Designated Sidewalks are plowed and sanded along all streets by small plow-equipped tractors. Sidewalks in the Commercial Zone are cleared of snow by the businesses. They are also cleared by the city just prior to the haul off operations. The priority for sidewalks goes to those sidewalks on routes to schools.  Sidewalks in the vicinity of the Peace Lutheran care facility are maintained by that organization. Their maintenance standards are very high.


Towing

One of the main obstacles hampering efficient snow plowing and removal is parked vehicles. Parking on a downtown or major arterial street between 12:00 midnight and 8:00 a.m. when snow operations are in progress will result in your vehicle being towed at your expense. In residential areas vehicles will also be subject to towing if they are hampering snow clearing operations. Ample notification will be provided before vehicles are towed from residential streets.


Snow Removal Parking Instructions

Downtown areas - no parking 12:00 midnight to 8:00 a.m. as posted. Off-street parking downtown is available.  Residential areas - no parking 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during scheduled snow removal operations. Notification will be by temporary signing and radio announcements.


Questions and Answers about Snow Operations

Why don't your drivers put the blade down and plow all the snow off down to the pavement?

The Department uses some "gravity" plows that can be mounted on the same trucks used in the summer. These plows tend to ride on top of the compacted snow. Clearing to the bare pavement with the trucks could leave unacceptable windrows in driveways.
 

It seems like we're always plowed last. Why can't we be first sometimes?

That's a good question. People are creatures of habit and our drivers have a tendency to begin and end in the same places. We do try to reverse this order if conditions permit.


When is it okay to park on my street again after it has been plowed?

You can park on the street as soon as it's been completely plowed to the curb, or its full width. Be careful, it takes more than one pass for the plows to get the job done completely.


Why don't you just tow the cars off the street that don't observe the parking bans?

When vehicles are obstructing operations, we must often remove them. It involves a towing company and considerable time. Sometimes rather than hold up our equipment it is necessary to plow around parked vehicles creating snow islands when the vehicle is moved. If there is a car on your street that is never moved, call the Public Works Department at 787-8150.
 

What can I do to avoid being towed?

Have and use off street parking during winter months. When parking on the street insure that you comply with posted parking restrictions as well as the general city-wide winter parking restrictions.


Can you reduce costs?

We try to keep a good balance between levels of service and expenditures by continually trying to improve our service without increasing costs. Our budget has remained relatively constant for the past few years but actual costs depend on the weather. The more snow and icing, the more it costs.


Why can't the City remove the snow they put in my driveway?

Snow is removed from driveway entrances when the clearing operation is done by graders. The truck mounted plows cover too large an area for driveway snow removal operations to keep up. We continue to examine options to reduce the inconvenience of the windrows left in your driveway.
 

Why do the plows go so fast?

Plows do have to go a minimum speed in order to throw snow off to the side. We do ask our drivers not to drive faster than necessary. In some cases however, shrubs, fences, walkways and driveways close to the curb cannot avoid getting snow on them.
 

My street was plowed poorly because of parked cars. Can you come back and plow again?

We will certainly try to when time permits. Call us at the Public Works Department at 787-8150.


My car has been towed. Where will I find it?

For information on where towed vehicles are being stored, call City Hall at 787-8150.


I'm very concerned about our environment. Why don't you eliminate the use of salt?

The City uses liquid Calcium Chloride for severe icing conditions. The Calcium Chloride content used in our sand is applied upon discharge of the granular from the sand truck assist it in binding to the roads. Direct salt applications are very expensive and are used only when absolutely necessary. Trial continues on reducing Calcium Chloride requirements.

Granular materials used are 3/8" crushed, washed, rock piled with no freeze proofing.


I didn't know you would be plowing and I think it's unfair that my car got towed away.

We try to give snow removal operations as much publicity as we can. The news people are very cooperative with us on this. Try to be on the lookout for news from your radio, television, newspaper or call City Hall at 787-8150 for the most current update on what areas are being worked on. Maybe your neighbour thinks it' unfair the street wasn't plowed where your car was parked.


Who can I call if I have a complaint or a request?

For plowing or sanding call (250) 787-8150. All emergency maintenance requests after normal working hours should go to City Answering Service at 785-5880.


I would like to make a suggestion on snow removal. Who can I send it to?

We'll be happy to get your suggestions. Send them to City of Fort St. John, 10631 - 100th Street, Fort St. John, B.C., V1J 3Z5, Attention: Don Demers, Director of Public Works and Utilities.


Where do I park downtown at night?

Wherever possible use off-street parking lots.


Is it all right to allow my children to dig snow caves along roadside snow banks?

This should definitely not be allowed. Equipment widening streets or blowing snow banks back could collapse a snow cave trapping or seriously injuring children inside. Our operators are constantly watching for children but if hidden in a snow cave a child may not be seen until it is too late.

Help us in our efforts - Please DO NOT shovel / blow / plow snow from sidewalks or driveways onto the street. The snow should be placed on abutting boulevards so as not to create an unexpected hazard for motorists or pedestrians.

For more information on Snow Clearing, please contact Don Demers, Director of Public Works and Utilities at (250) 787-8150.

Snow & Ice Control Notice