Moose Jaw’s updated snow clearing and removal policy comes with a sharper map, firmer timelines, and a whole lot more detail — plus a clear price tag.
The City’s Executive Committee heard a report Monday on its request to replace the Winter Maintenance Policy with a new Winter Maintenance Service Level document, aimed at aligning snow-clearing operations with actual practice and public expectations.
“This is a previously internally used reconciliation document,” said Bevan Harlton, the city’s Director of Operations.
“But what it is now is 30 points raised by Council, and the public, that administration considered and included in the service level. So, that attachment shows the question we got — or the issue we were asked to look at — and our intent to improve or speak to that level of service.”
What the new service level does
The overhaul abandons vague or outdated standards and replaces them with clear timelines and classifications for every street, sidewalk, and snowbank. It also redefines which streets get cleared first — and how soon.
The city will now sort its snow response into four tiers, measured in hours after a snow event ends:
- Priority 1 (0–24 hours): Arterials and key emergency corridors including connections to Highways 1, 2, and 363.
- Priority 2 (24–60 hours): Bus routes and downtown core. This now includes metered parking and was previously considered Priority 1.
- Priority 3 (60–96 hours): Collector roads, school access, city facility routes.
- Priority 4 (96+ hours): Remaining arterials and major collectors, based on need and snow height.
Sidewalks, school bus zones, and city-owned parking lots follow these same priority streams. Residential streets are maintained for snowpack and rutting, but full clearing and hauling is limited.
Here’s what that means for your block
Snow that falls in Moose Jaw is no longer treated as an emergency unless it meets minimum thresholds:
- Snow event: ≥ 5 cm
- Major event: ≥ 10 cm, or two storms close together
- Extreme weather: When accumulation or conditions prevent safe crew deployment
Only once the event stops — meaning the snow or wind ends — does the clock start on clearing timelines. From there:
- Downtown roads and metered parking spots will be cleared within 60 hours.
- School bus loading zones will be cleared or windrowed within 96 hours, depending on location.
- Driveways will be cleared where windrows exceed 10 cm, and one parking space per residence will be kept clear “wherever possible.”
- Windrows, it should be noted, are here to stay—though their size, location, and removal priority are now formally documented.
What it costs
“The cost of one snow event under the proposed service level is estimated to be between $270,000 and $495,000,” said Harlton.
That includes plowing and hauling, with the removal side alone accounting for the lion’s share.
“If we look at the high end, the low end, the removal piece of a priority snow response — a complete priority snow response — is about 63 to 68 per cent of the cost. So, two-thirds of the cost of our priority snow response will be on removal.”
For the 2025 budget, the city has allocated $1.59 million for winter operations, based on planning for four major snow events. That leaves just under $70,000 for contingency, regular road maintenance, and emergencies.
New routes, new logic
The city has redrawn its snow priority map using the 2024 Transportation Master Plan’s 10-year traffic forecast, truck routes, bus maps, and road classifications. High-traffic areas near the new hospital, the Westheath School site, and city infrastructure like the wastewater plant were given higher priority.
Attachment G in the agenda details over 100 road segments either added or shifted between priorities, along with their rationale—ranging from “bus route changed” to “problem hill” to “RM access road.”
The overhaul follows a spring 2025 public survey that saw:
- 72% of residents approve of how roads are prioritized.
- 64% oppose plowing across driveways without clearing windrows.
- 73% support more rut-blading in residential areas.
- 86% support enhanced parking enforcement during snow operations.
Other top asks included faster sanding after blading, sidewalk enforcement, and 24-hour crews.
In response, the new policy clarifies that rut blading starts when ruts exceed 10 cm and sanding priorities are based on school zones, corners, and intersections — not simply when streets feel slippery.
How to stay informed
The city is launching a new “Snow Hub” at moosejaw.ca with a live clearing map, FAQ, and real-time updates. Public Service Announcements will precede each major snow event, with street-level signage placed the day before clearing crews arrive.