Toronto’s 14,700 km of road lanes, 7,900 km of sidewalks and 486 lane-km of cycle tracks (including separated bike lanes, on-road bike lanes and multi-use trails) is cleared by a fleet of approximately 1,400 pieces of snow clearing equipment.
24-hour patrols continuously check road conditions and staff monitor weather forecasts and pavement temperature. Even before the snow starts to fall, crews swing into action and work continuously until the storm is over.
| Road Type | When does the City start salting? | How many hours does it take to salt each round?* | When does the City start plowing? | How many hours does it take to plow each round?* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expressways (Don Valley Parkway & Gardiner Expressway) | When snow first accumulates | 2 hours | 2.5 cm | 2 hours |
| Major roads, transit routes and streets with hills | When snow first accumulates | 4 hours | 5 cm | 6-8 hours |
| Residential streets | When snow first accumulates | 8 hours | 8 cm | 14 hours |
*It may take multiple rounds to clear a road due to ongoing snowfall.
In advance of snow or ice, anti-ice trucks will apply salt brine to expressways, hills and bridges. People who drive should always keep a safe distance behind the brine trucks. You can tell where salt brine has been applied by the grey lines left by the salt on the road surface.
| Initiation Level | Maximum Operating Time | Required Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expressway | As required | 6 hours | Visible salt residue |
| Arterials | As required | 6 hours | Visible salt residue |
| Collector | As required | 6 hours | Visible salt residue |
| Initiation Level | Maximum Operating Time | Required Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expressway | < 2.5 cm | 2 hours | Bare pavement |
| Arterials | < 5 cm | 4 hours | Bare pavement |
| Collector | < 8 cm | 4 hours | Centre bare |
| Local Roads | < 8 cm | 8 hours | Safe and passable |
| Laneways | 24 hours from end of snowfall | Safe and passable | |
| Initiation Level | Maximum Operating Time | Required Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expressway | 2.5 cm | 2 hours | Bare pavement |
| Arterials | 5 cm | 6 hours | Bare pavement |
| Collector | 8 cm | 8 hours | Centre bare |
| Local Roads | 8 cm | 14 hours | Safe and passable |
| Windrow Clearing | Same as adjacent roadway plus 2 hours | Safe and passable | |
| Initiation Level | Maximum Operating Time | Required Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidewalks | 2 cm | 12 hours | Safe and passable |
| Bus Stops & Pedestrian Crossovers | 2 cm | 16 hours | Safe and passable |
| All Cycling Infrastructure | 2 cm | 8 hours | Safe and passable / Bare pavement |
| Hand Crews | Same as work area | ||
Using a specialized machine that follows the snow plows, crews will clear three meter wide driveway openings on eligible residential streets.
Using a specialized machine that follows the snow plows, crews will clear three meter wide driveway openings on eligible collector and arterial roads if the windrow (snow pile) exceeds 25 centimeters.
We aim to clear three meter wide driveway windrows within two hours of road plowing. However, the time needed to complete windrow clearing depends on a variety of factors such as the size of the plow driver’s route, the amount of snow that has accumulated, on-street parking and other potential obstructions.
City Council approved 11 consolidated contracts to deliver winter maintenance services for all roads, bikeways and sidewalks within a precise geographic zone. The 11 new contracts began November 2022 and will continue for seven years, with three additional single option years. The City’s new contracts use an industry-leading, customer-focused approach and are designed to deliver a number of improvements and innovations.