Who decides when to send out the plows?
Markham’s Operations-Roads team makes this decision, based on Council approved service levels. Markham’s winter service levels either meet or in many cases exceed the Province of Ontario’s legislated service levels for clearing snow from roads and sidewalks.
How much snow has to fall before the City plows all streets?
It has to snow at least 7.5 cm or 3 inches before a full plow is activated.
How many big storms does the City of Markham receive each year?
It varies. Some years, like 2015 to 2016, we only had two storms that required plowing. Other years, we can see as many as nine or more storms over 7.5 cm of snowfall.
How long is the City of Markham road network?
Markham’s road network (the area we control and plow) is approximately 2,250 km. That is the equivalent of travelling from Toronto to Montreal 4 times.
How long is the City of Markham sidewalk, multi-use pathway and cycle track network?
We have approximately 1,150km of sidewalks, multi-use pathways and cycle tracks that we clear.
How long does it take to plow all City streets?
That depends on how much snow falls and how fast. During a typical storm, it can take between 12-16 hours to completely plow all City streets inclusive of lane ways.
How many pieces of equipment does the City use to maintain its streets during a snow event?
The City can mobilize over 200 pieces of equipment to manage a winter storm event.
How does the City manage so many pieces of equipment?
The City has an Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) in every piece of equipment. We can use the AVL to monitor compliance and performance. The City also has a number of supervisory field staff on call should a storm hit and require plowing. Residents can now also see what the status of their local plow is by downloading the City of Markham Mobile App, and using our Winter Maintenance App available at markham.ca/winter.
Does the City of Markham ever review their service levels?
Yes, we do. Staff provide updates to Council approximately every two years, or as Council requests. These updates can be general reports to Council or extensive workshops. The last report was provided to Council on June 2019, outlining the 2018/2019 winter services standards. Council has approved the current service levels as presented.
Does Markham plow all the roads in the City?
No, the roads in Markham can be owned by a number of governing bodies: The City of Markham, York Region and the Province of Ontario. Markham only manages the services of Markham-owned roads – these are generally local roads and roads that do not cross over City boundaries. Last updated on November 15, 2022