Proposed Winter Sidewalk Maintenance - to Begin November 2022

Many municipalities across Ontario have been struggling to meet the needs of residents that don’t rely on the road network for mobility. These residents require more frequent use and clearing of the sidewalks during winter months.

To date, the Town of Lincoln has depended largely on a By-Law passed in the early 70’s that requires residents to clear the sidewalk adjacent to their property of any snow and debris. With a greater demand for active transportation options, and the increasing risk of potential personal injury, it was determined that an alternative approach to winter sidewalk clearing should be considered and developed.

Alternative Approach

Through a process of community engagement and public input the Town will develop a winter maintenance program that will ensure all members of the community have access to the transportation network year around.

Utilizing varying levels of service, the program will be customized to provide service where and when it is required most, at a cost that is sustainable for the community.

Stakeholder groups will be an active part of developing the criteria for classifying all of the assets that make up the Town's network, ensuring that the needs of the community are weighed equally with all other factors in the development process.

Sidewalks

The Town has identified three (3) main sidewalk subtypes to be included in the new sidewalk winter maintenance program:

• 70 km of road adjacent sidewalk
  • Refers to any sidewalk that is within the right of way. It can be separated by a grass Boulevard (Boulevard sidewalk) or constructed as part of the curb (Curb Face sidewalk)
• 3 km of walkways
  • Sidewalks that connect to a road adjacent sidewalk. They an connect to road adjacent sidewalks at both ends or only one end
• 6 km of Multi use Trails
  • Recreation facilities that are not intended for vehicular transportation. They can be paved or unpaved. To be a multi use trail there needs to be an alternative available that is intended for pedestrian use, not technically a sidewalk. Normally they are left unmaintained in the winter

Level of Service

The level of service/clearing provided for each sidewalk is currently determined based on balancing each sidewalk's level of usage, availability of alternative routes, and the service need. Currently there are two levels:

Primary

• Staff will aim to start service when accumulation exceeds 5cm.
• Route will aim be completed within 48hrs of the end of snow fall - Significant Winter Events will response in longer response times.
• Sand and salt applied as required.
• Staff will aim to maintain continually during an event.

Secondary

• Aim to be cleared within 48hrs after the end of an event and accumulation exceeds 8cm - - Significant Winter Events will response in longer response times.
• Snow packed finished surface.
• Salted or sanded as required.

Sidewalk Winter Maintenance Working Group

To ensure that we are understanding the community needs as thoroughly as possible, a sidewalk winter maintenance working group is being established. The group will be structured as follows:

• 1 Project lead
• 1 Staff Representative
• 4 Representatives from Community Committees (2 Active Transportation, 2 Age Friendly)

Working Group Goals

• Creating the framework that will be used by staff to establish the level of service required to meet the expectations and needs of the community
• Develop questions that will make up a community survey
• Provide comment on draft plans prior to presentation to Council