Let It Snow

From the City's Transportation Services Division:

Let It Snow… Let It Snow… Let It Snow

It’s that time of the year again – winter!

A Canadian winter can sometimes mean a lot of snow, and the City of Toronto is ready!

Here are a few things that you can expect as we gear up for another winter in Toronto.

As soon as the snow begins, Transportation Services sends out its fleet of salt trucks to the expressways, main roads and local roads. If the City receives 2.5 centimeters of snow, the plows go out to the expressways. When we get five centimeters of snow, they start clearing the main roads. Plowing then takes place for the duration of the storm.

When the snow stops and if the snow accumulation reaches eight centimetres, plows will be sent to the local roads. Normally, local road plowing will be completed between 14 and 16 hours after the storm has ended.

The City will clear snow from sidewalks on local roads where it is mechanically possible to do so after eight centimetres (five centimetres in January and February) of snow has fallen. In the central core of the city, property owners are required to clear their sidewalks of snow 12 hours after a storm has taken place.

The City of Toronto’s levels of service for snow clearing meet those set by the Province of Ontario for municipalities and road authorities. These levels of service were adopted by Toronto City Council in 2009.

Residents who have questions about snow clearing efforts in their area can call the City at 311.
If you need more information about the city's plans for snow clearing, visit toronto.ca/transportation.

Here’s an important tip about shoveling snow. Please don’t push snow back onto the road. It’s against the law, hampers snow clearing efforts and is very dangerous for motorists.

Winter, and the snow that comes with it, is a part of what makes us Canadians. By working together, we can make sure that Toronto continues to be a safe and accessible city in which to live, work and play.

City News Release: City of Toronto gears up for winter

The first signs of snow have been spotted in Ward 39 in the past week, and the City of Toronto is ready to keep its streets clean. Find out more about what the City is doing to brave this winter below:

Who qualifies for a PVT refund?

As you know, the City of Toronto has recently rescinded the $60 Personal Vehicle Tax. Depending on your circumstance, you may be entitled to a refund of a portion of what you have already paid. Below is an excerpted portion of a Q&A factsheet published by the City, which lays out the exact scenario in which one is entitled to a refund.

What should I know about parking on the street?

Whether it be from the people worried about their neighbours parking on the street, or those who receive tickets themselves, one of the issues we hear most often about concerns parking on the street. We've compiled some of the important information here so you can be prepared; whether it be to keep your streets clear or to avoid fines in the future.

Can I park on the street?
In the City of Toronto, unless otherwise signed, you are allowed to park on the street for up to three hours at a time. If you exceed that limit, whether it be at your house or not, you risk being fined. This includes overnight parking.

What do I do if neighbours are parking on my street for more than three hours?
As a resident, you can call Parking Enforcement at 416-808-6600. Give them all the information you can (where the car is parked, when and how long it's been parked, and if possible, the make, model, and license plate of the car.), and they will send out an officer to investigate.

If it is a recurring problem, call our office at 416-392-1374. We will contact Parking Enforcement on your behalf, and set up an extended parking detail.

What do I do if I've been issued a ticket?
You have two options, pay the fine, or dispute the ticket. You can make the payment online, in person, by mail, or by telephone. If you choose to dispute the ticket, you must bring the ticket to one of four Parking Tag Operations offices, and schedule an appearance in court. More information on both of these can be found in the links below.

I've been parking on the street for years, why did I only get a ticket now?
Parking on the street for over three hours has always been illegal. Because of the complaint-driven nature of enforcement, street parking may not always be ticketed right away.

Can I apply for a parking permit to let me park on the street?
Parking permits allow the holder to park in specified areas on-sreet at designated hours. Unfortunately, parking permits are not issued for the Scarborough area at the current moment. The permit program is only in effect for the cities of Toronto, East York, York, and limited parts of Etobicoke; generally in areas where driveways are not common. Plans for expansion are under consideration.

Why have I received a notice of violation when I was parked on my own driveway?
If you are parking on a widened portion of your driveway, this is a Property Standards violation. A good rule of thumb is that you should not be parking more vehicles side-by-side than will fit in your garage. You may also receive a Parking Enforcement for parking over the sidewalk or on the boulevard portion of your driveway, both of which are City property. We will be exploring both these issues in more depth a future article.

Useful links:
Parking offences that do not require signs
What to do if you've received a parking ticket
Online parking ticket payment system
Permit Parking in Toronto
Toronto Police Services: Parking Enforcement

Ward 39 Grass Cutting Schedule

Spring is here, and the City of Toronto is commencing its grass cutting schedule this week. Weather permitting, the mowing crews will clear grass on major boulevards and islands throughout the ward on the specified dates, while a trimming crew will dispatched two days later.

The schedule for the next month in our ward is as follows:

April 27 - 28
South of Finch, north of Sheppard, between Birchmount and the railroad tracks east of Kennedy.

May 14 - 17
North of Finch, south of Steeles, between Birchmount and the railroad tracks east of Kennedy.

May 18
North of Finch, south of Steeles, between Victoria Park and Birchmount.

For grass cutting schedule for other parts of Scarborough, please see links below.

Useful Links
2010 Scarborough Grass Cutting Schedule: April 26 - May 18