Snow-removal operation could take another week in Montreal, garbage collection resumes

The snow-removal operation, now 60 percent complete, is on track and will take at least another week, according to Mayor Valérie Plante, who updated the situation at a press conference on Monday.

Garbage pickup and recycling collection resumed on Monday after being suspended on Feb. 17 to help with snow-clearing.

“We were together on Friday talking about it would be March 2nd. So we’re sticking to that date,” said Plante, about the snow removal. “If it goes faster, we’ll tell you. We feel like we need to keep this this kind of objective. But that being said, it also depends on the weather. Right now, it’s great because it’s milder. So it’s even better […] But if it freezes, of course, the snow becomes harder. So it takes longer if there is more snow, which I have to say, I’m kind of hoping there will not be any more snow for a little while. But hey, I don’t have a direct connection with Mother Nature – so crossing my finger.”

“I’m glad that they’re finally getting to it, but I’m really disappointed at the quality of the snow removal,” said NDG resident Norman Spatz.

Some streets identified as hazardous

Hundreds of streets like Oxford Ave. in NDG remain a hazard and a safety risk for citizens, with snow narrowing streets, making it difficult for emergency services to get through.

“Among certain challenges that we face, obviously it’s the streets themselves, given the size of our fire trucks. If the streets are already narrow to begin with, with the snow that’s fallen and been pushed to the sides, and obviously people trying to park their cars sometimes at a 45-degree angle, there is some challenge in certain areas and streets for us to get through with the trucks,” said Guy LaPointe, division chief with the Montreal Fire Department.

Last Thursday, the fire department did a massive reconnaissance operation, where all 66 firehouses were involved.

They went around nearly 47,000 streets on the Island of Montreal and were able to identify areas where snow might be an issue – and put in place temporary measures.

“In those areas, what we did is basically two things. We pre-planned alternative itineraries so we wouldn’t get delayed answering calls, and we also put more staff on duty so if we have a certain fire, and let’s say we can’t get the truck as close as we would like, it’s possible to still intervene. I mean, we’ve even in the past had to intervene with the truck not being directly in front of an address, and with the more staff that we’ve put in place, it allows us to compensate,” explained LaPointe.

Following that operation, they shared all collected information with the boroughs so they could adapt the snow removal operation and are in constant communication with them.

Despite the situation, it has not had any specific impact during interventions or response times so far, and LaPointe says they don’t foresee any issues or security risks for the population, and they’re comfortable with the situation.

“I’m happy to say that as of today, since the beginning of the very first storm, which was Thursday two weeks ago, there haven’t been any significant issues or problems answering the calls, and we are confident that our operational capacities are at 100%,” said Lapointe.

“Of course, when it comes to removing the snow, the priorities are always about public security,” said Plante. “The firefighters and ambulance – police – can move around. The firefighters in the different boroughs decided to look around and make an evaluation, and they identified about 900 streets that were not completely clear for public security. […] That was last Thursday or Friday, and today we can say that 70 per cent of them have been cleared, so it was very helpful and we appreciate it because we’ve been trying to remove the snow everywhere to move as fast as possible, but again, public security is always our priority.”

For Spatz, it has caused safety concerns for him as well, saying, “One of the worst parts of this snowfall was the fact that the little sidewalk cleaners couldn’t get onto the sidewalks. The snow was too high. And so walking, you have to choose: Am I going to navigate the hazards of walking in the snow on the sidewalk, or am I going to go into the street, which, not merely getting hit by a car, is one of the questions?”

He also added: “When you’re walking, ice forms in the treads of the street. So in both cases, it’s been difficult. And for me, the hardest part was walking to the corners when you’re in the street and a car pulls up, and you have to sort of bend around the mirror to avoid getting hit by it.”

“We haven’t moved our car for ages. Our upstairs neighbors park on the street; we have a parking space in the backyard. We’re scared to move. We’re scared that we possibly won’t be able to get back in. And it’s been hard. It has not been impossible, but it has been hard. I understand that this was an exceptionally big snowfall and that the city has had difficulty dealing with it. But then again, looking at the other neighborhoods—Côte St. Luc, Montreal West—I don’t understand why we are so slow.”

“I think, given that we are in a municipal election period, whoever is running has to address the fact that we don’t seem capable of clearing the streets at a reasonable rate.”

Citizens getting impatient

The mayor says she understands people have become impatient and want roads to be cleared already, but explains that city employees have been working tirelessly to get it all done.

“For our part, we, as citizens with a vehicle, really have to be aware that it slows down operations. We need everyone’s help. If there are any particular issues you have questions about, don’t hesitate to contact your borough.”

“When there is a vehicle, you have to stop everything,” said Plante. “It can be five minutes that we waste towing the car.”

Plante also mentioned the resumption of trash collection.

“Same thing for the waste collection. I announced it on Friday, that it would start again this morning, but respect the schedules,” said Plante. “Over the weekend, I walked around and saw a lot of garbage bags lying around in the snow strips. That slows down operations, so look at the schedules.”

“I think we’re doing great,” concluded Plante. “Montrealers, thank you for your patience. We don’t give up. The blue collars, our workers, private companies, and emergency services, among other things, we don’t give up. And a big thank you for your efforts.”

Not a race, but a marathon

Spokesperson for the City of Montreal, Philippe Sabourin, says it’s not a race, but a marathon when it comes to snow removal progress.

“What we’re doing isn’t a 100-metre race, it’s a marathon,” said Sabourin. “Safety first.”

“There are factors that help us,” said Sabourin. “First, factors over which we have control. We asked parking lot owners to keep their snow at home; otherwise, we gave them two options. The idea is to have snow deposits, it circulates, and there is no waiting. As you may have seen here this morning, we are at the falls in Fullum [snow depot]. The trucks come in here, and the faster they leave, the faster they find the snowblower again. We want it to go as quickly as possible.”

Sabourin says when all is said and done, there will be 150,000 trips by snow trucks completed.

“I can tell you that we have increased the transport fleet by 30 per cent. You could tell me it would have been nice to have 50 or 60 per cent more, but that is not possible. There is a limit, a maximum that we can reach to ensure that there are no obstacles to the entry to our sites.”

“As of today, 70 per cent of streets are ready and secure, ensuring that emergency services can get there with ease.”

“So, we also urge everyone to be civic-minded by placing the containers at the curb,” said Sabourin. “If the other side of the street is clear, that’s where you’re going to carry your bag. We try to help each other.”

Each part of the city is making progress in snow clearing: L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève has 66 per cent of its snow removal completed; Pierrefonds–Roxboro at 75 per cent; Lachine at 74 per cent; Saint-Léonard at 66 per cent; and Anjou at 70 per cent.

Ahuntsic-Cartierville is at 44 per cent, Côte-des-Neiges–NDG is at 55 per cent, and Ville-Marie is at 51 per cent.

Mix of snow and rain this week

The weather forecast for Tuesday calls for cloudy conditions with a 40 per cent chance of morning showers, followed by a few more starting near noon. The temperature will hold steady around 5°C.

Tuesday night will bring cloudy skies and a 30 per cent chance of showers.

Wednesday will be sunny with a high of 3°C, while the night will see periods of snow, with a low of -2°C.

Thursday will bring snow or rain, with a high of 5°C, and periods of rain or snow at night, with a low of -6°C.

On Friday, expect snow with a high of -3°C, and cloudy skies with a 60 per cent chance of flurries overnight, bringing a low of -10°C.

Saturday will see snow with a high of -2°C, and periods of snow at night with a low of -12°C.