Snow and Ice Service Standards

The Halifax Regional Municipality is committed to keeping streets and sidewalks clear and safe from snow and ice. Even before a snow event occurs, HRM's snow operations are set in motion to facilitate safe movement for both motorists and pedestrians. Snow and ice operations, however, do take time. The goal is to set an attainable standard which align the levels of service with the financial constraints of the HRM budget.

In order to achieve this standard, routes must be classified based on their impact on the overall transportation system. HRM has classified all of the routes and will service them (salt, sand and plow) in the following order of priority:

 

Streets Priority 1 Streets & Roads  First Priority streets include main arterials, emergency routes to hospitals and fire equipment, major bus routes, and snow routes in major hilly terrain during weather situations. HRM's goal is to have a plow or salt pass every 3 hours and make Class 1 streets safe and clear of snow within 12 hours of the end of snowfall. Priority 2 Streets & Roads  Second Priority streets include residential and rural routes with medium to low volume traffic, gravel roads, and private lanes which HRM is responsible for. HRM's goal is to start cut throughs at intersections to allow access onto the local streets after 10 cm's of accumulation and to make Class 2 streets passable within 24 hours of the end of snowfall. Service Standards for Streets (PDF 321KB) More information on streets

 

 

 

Important Notes on Service Standards

• In snowfalls greater than 30 cm, or in blizzard conditions, service levels may not be achieved. HRM's crews will continue working until all streets and sidewalks are clear and safe from snow & ice.
• During significant snow events "cut throughs" (one lane plowing) may commence on residential streets to allow single lane access prior to full street width clearing
• While the objective is to maintain sidewalks to a bare condition, many factors are key to achieving success. Wet snow packed to ice, freezing rain and sudden freezes after rain can produce a heavy ice build-up on sidewalks. Sand will be applied to provide a degree of traction.
• In the case of multiple snowfalls, where there has been insufficient time to complete all sidewalks, operations will return to the highest priorities and start over.
• Plowing, from either street or sidewalk operations, will result in snow at the end of resident's driveways. HRM will NOT be responsible for removing this snow.

Street Clearing Standards

 

Road Classification/ Priority	Typical	Service Level After Operations	Start Times and Frequency	Time to Completion from End of Snowfall
Priority 1 Main Arterials	Robie Street, Sackville Street, Portland Street	Bare pavement driving lanes	After 2 cm of snow, 3 hour turnaround	12 hours to full driving lanes
Priority 1 Transit Routes Collector Roads	Parkland, Caledonia Rd, Metropolitan Ave	3m centreline bare	After 2 cm of snow, 3 hour turnaround	12 hours
Priority 1 Residential Street with greater than 10% slope that serve as snow routes	Vestry Street, Joffre Street, Lindsay Hill	Centreline bare	After 4 cm of snow, 3 hour turnaround	12 hours to 2 lane width
Priority 2 Residential Streets	Cork Street, Anderson Street, Chandler Drive	Snow Covered, Passable	After 10 cm of snow	24 hours to 2 lane widths
Priority 2 Gravel Roads	Confederation Drive, Flandrum Hills	Snow Covered, Passable	After 10 cm of snow	24 hours
Priority 2 Private Lanes	Myers Lane	Snow Covered, Passable		24 hours

 

Sidewalk Clearing Standards

 

Sidewalk Priority Classification	Materials Used	Start Time	Duration Until Cleared
Priority 1 Main Arterials Capital District	Salt or Salt/Sand mixture	After 5 cm of snowfall	12 hours from end of snowfall
Priority 2 School Routes and Transit Routes	Salt or Salt/Sand mixture	After 10 cm of snowfall	18 hours from end of snowfall
Priority 3 Residential Streets/ Walkways	Salt or Salt/Sand mixture	After completion of first 2 priorities	36 hours from end of snowfall
Intersections / bus stops	Salt or Salt/Sand mixture	After sidewalks are complete	72 hours from end of snowfall