Winter Control

Winter control services in the Township of Ramara follow a Council-approved Winter Control Policy that meets the Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways. The Township provides plowing, sanding, ice treatment, and ice blading to ensure the following:

• Reducing hazards of icy road conditions
• Reducing economic losses to the community
• Facilitating access of emergency services
• Providing safe school bus and postal delivery routes
• Providing local access for the driving public

Each Township road is classified based on daily traffic volume, road surface type, and the number of homes on the road. As a result, each road requires a different level of service. In accordance with the Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways under the Municipal Act, 2001, roads within the Township's jurisdiction fall into the following four categories:

• Class 3
• Class 4
• Class 5
• Class 6

What Can Residents Do to Help with Winter Road Maintenance?

To support efficient snow removal, please ensure your vehicle doesn't block snow removal operations, and that you do not place snow from your property onto municipal roadways. Pushing snow onto Municipal roadways is in direct contravention to the Highway Traffic Act (R.S.O. 1990, Chapter H.8, Section 181), which states that “No person shall deposit snow or ice on a roadway without permission in writing to do so from the Ministry or the road authority responsible for the maintenance of the road. Contravention of this Act can lead to a fine being imposed upon the property owner.”

To help the Township clear the roads safely and quickly, please ensure that:

• Mailboxes are kept clear of snow.
• Garbage bins are visible, yet removed from the road allowance.
• When clearing your driveway, consider the direction of the snow plow. Move snow to the side of your property that the plow finishes on, so less snow is spread back across the driveway.
• Snow is not blown onto the roadway. Rather, blow or place snow onto your own yard.
• Keep children off snow banks. Do not let children tunnel into snow banks, as they can collapse or be pushed back by snow plows.
• Snow piles do not block access in front or beside fire hydrants, catch basins, drains or culverts

As snow and ice builds up on the street, clearing the area around the sewer grates, curbside gutters and drainage ditch will help to prevent flooding and property damage.

Overnight Parking Bylaw

Overnight parking is restricted annually from November 15 to April 15 between midnight and 7 a.m. These restrictions apply regardless of snowfall on a given day.

Sanding

Class 3 and Class 4 paved roads are sanded in their entirety to achieve centre-bare conditions. Class 5 paved roads are sanded at intersections, curves, hills, and railway crossings.

Gravel roads are spot-sanded when ice blading cannot be achieved within the timeframes.

Blanket coverage occurs only during extreme icy conditions and/or freezing rain.

Sanders will begin no earlier than 4 a.m. and cease at 8 p.m., unless severe conditions or emergency services require it (authorized by the General Manager of Development and Infrastructure or the CAO).

Sand/salt mix shall spread at a rate of 225 kg to 280 kg per kilometer and shall be a minimum of 4% salt.

Ice Treatment

Upon becoming aware of icy conditions, roads are sanded or ice bladed within the timelines set out as follows:

Ice Treatment

Ice Blading

Gravel roads will be ice bladed using a grader or drag when temperatures and conditions permit.

Significant Weather Events

As per Regulation 239/02 of the Municipal Act, 2001, an Ontario municipality may declare a significant weather event when a weather hazard is approaching or occurring and has the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the highways in which they have authority over. This declaration suspends the standard timelines required for municipalities to meet their winter maintenance objectives until the municipality declares the significant weather event has ended. In each case, during the course of a declared significant weather event, the standard for addressing winter maintenance is to monitor the weather and to deploy resources to address the issue starting from the time that the municipality deems it appropriate to do so. When the municipality has declared the event has ended, the standard timelines for winter maintenance activities will begin.

Ramara Township may declare a significant weather event when the weather forecast or actual weather condition includes one or more of the following conditions:

1. Significant snow accumulation during a 24-hour period.
2. Ice formation that occurs with no warning from the weather forecast.
3. High winds leading to large snow drifts.
4. Cold temperature when de-icing operations will not be effective.

The declaration of a significant weather event is not notice of a reduced level of service or a road closure. The declaration is to notify the public that due to the current or forecasted conditions, caution is to be observed when travelling on Township roads and that it may take longer than usual to bring the condition of the roads back to a state of repair.

The Township will notify the public that a significant weather event has started and or ended in the following ways:

1. Ramara Township website
2. Social Media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram)
3. Alertable 

For further information on the declaration of significant weather events, view Ontario Regulation 239/02.