This year, the city has acquired new winter maintenance contracts using a consolidated contracting model, which will allow for better oversight and more accountability. The new contractors will be using mechanical snow plows for sidewalk clearing.
311 does not accept service requests during active operations, which includes clearing and salting roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, bus stops and transit shelters. Sidewalks are now mechanically cleared by city crews after 2 cm of snow accumulation.
After the snow stops falling, it takes about six hours to clear major roads and 14 hours to clean residential streets. Residents are encouraged to call 311 or use the online portal for service requests related to snow plow damage, missed snow clearing or salting as this is the city’s main triaging method.
Residents can reach out to Councillor Jennifer McKelvie’s office with their 311 service request number for escalations. The city is responsible for property and sod damage from city contracted snow plows. If residents experience property damage, they may file a claim with the City of Toronto at https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/complaints-claims-compliments/make-a-claim-against-the-city/how-to-file-a-claim/
They can also follow up with the councillor’s office once the claim has been assigned to an adjuster and someone will connect as necessary.
From Councillor McKelvie’s office