Over a month following the recent major snowstorm in Toronto, a number of residents are expressing concerns about persistent snowbanks on their streets, hindering on-street parking for both residents and local businesses.
Coun. Brad Bradford of Beaches-East York stated that he has received over 50 emails and numerous phone calls from frustrated residents due to inadequate snow clearance, impacting the availability of parking spaces for the city’s approximately 53,000 on-street permit holders.
Bradford emphasized the importance of maintaining clear streets for permit holders, ensuring safety for seniors accessing sidewalks, and preventing delays for transit riders.
The office of Mayor Olivia Chow mentioned that crews have been addressing snow removal effectively since a snowstorm on Jan. 25 deposited more than 50 centimeters of snow across the city.
Snow removal is a separate process from street plowing, with all streets now reportedly plowed by city staff. Removal involves transporting the accumulated snow from curbsides to city yards for melting.
‘Lack of Available Parking’
According to Chow’s press secretary Braman Thillainathan, the city’s 311 operators have handled over 43,000 snow removal requests, with 90% of them completed to date. Thillainathan highlighted the extensive efforts of city crews in response to this winter’s exceptional snowfall.
However, many side streets in the Beach neighborhood, as noted by Johanna Carlo, vice-chair of the Beach BIA, have not yet been addressed by snow removal crews, affecting local businesses in the area.
Residents like Jim Wilkins, a permit holder on Wineva Avenue, have faced challenges finding parking due to persistent snowbanks occupying several spots on his block.
Priority on Plowing over Snow Removal
Wendy Ospina in Riverdale described a significant snow pile left on the street on Feb. 20, attributing the issue to past city contracts favoring snow plowing over removal.
Coun. Josh Matlow of Toronto-St. Paul’s highlighted residents’ concerns over snow-blocked parking spaces, attributing the situation to past city contracts that prioritized plowing over snow removal.
Despite challenges in some areas, neighborhoods like University-Rosedale, under Coun. Dianne Saxe, have managed excess snow well, promptly addressing over 120 snow removal requests and prioritizing constituents’ needs.
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Fender-benders, dead batteries and loads of tows as wicked winter takes a toll
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