Many of the operational targets remain from the pilot, and we continue to be more responsive to our community’s transportation needs by determining operations by mobility impacts, rather than waiting for specific snow accumulation.

For specific timelines, please refer to the Snow & Ice Program graphic. This winter, we are implementing the low-cost solutions that the community loved, while finding cost-savings by returning to previous operational timelines in lesser-impacted areas. 

We continue to clear all city bus stops, however timelines have returned to pre-pilot levels:

• Priority 1 = within 3 days
• Priority 2 = an additional 4 days
• Priority 3 = an additional 7 days

This winter, we will continue to provide enhanced trail and sidewalk clearing. We will strive to clear:

• ~146 km of public sidewalks within 72 hours
• 68 km of asphalt neighbourhood trails within 3-7 days
• 35 km of Waskasoo Park Trails & five sets of staircases within 3-7 days.

To see a full map of where will be clearing, visit the Snow and Ice Control Sidewalk and Trail Clearing Map (pdf)

The annual base budget for snow and ice response is $5.75 million. The compilation of all new piloted services levels resulted in an additional cost of $1.282 Million.

The Snow & Ice Pilot had many successes, and this year we are moving forward with implementing the low-cost operations our community loved while returning to previous operational timelines in lesser-impacted areas to emphasize cost effectiveness.

We learned that our community appreciated:

• The quicker residential clearing program, made possible by 24/7 clearing operations.
• Improved traction control on major roads (reds and purple routes).
• Increased clearing along trails, sidewalks and staircases.
• No Parking signage consistency along green and grey routes resulting in fewer tickets and vehicles being towed.

Yes. When a residential plow campaign is triggered, a parking ban will first happen on all Green Routes, and then a parking ban will be placed on all Grey Routes once clearing is triggered. The parking ban will be in effect at all hours (including overnight) until a street is completed. Learn more about parking restrictions.

A residential plowing campaign will be triggered when mobility is negatively impacted, with triggering factors including, but not limited to: snowfall, forecast, freeze/thaw cycles and snowpack. In previous years, snowpack was our only consideration to trigger a clearing program. However, based on learnings from the pilot as well as community feedback, our residential plowing program will continue to be more responsive and flexible so we can restore mobility and improve accessibility sooner. Additionally, all Green Routes throughout the city will be completed in advance of a Grey Route plowing campaign.

You can track our daily operations at Find Your Route. We also post updates on social media, will place signage in your community, and send Notify Red Deer alerts.

• Sign up to receive alerts by text, email or phone and we will let you know when your neighbourhood is scheduled. Sign up using Notify Red Deer.
• Check the map. Search by address to know when you can expect to see plows in your neighbourhood.
• Watch for No Parking signs around your neighbourhood. Signs are placed at neighbourhood entrances and No Parking sandwich boards will be placed on each street. Please note: all Green Routes will be cleared first, followed by all Grey Routes, should clearing be triggered.

Green and Grey Routes are how we distinguish the two types of residential streets we have in our city.

• Green Routes are the busier roads in each neighbourhood and consist of collector roads and City Transit routes. They typically have higher traffic volumes and provide access to residential streets. Often Green Routes have a yellow line painted down the centre.
• Grey Routes are quieter residential streets (closes, crescents, etc) and typically have a lower traffic volume.

Find your route by searching your address here.

When a residential plow campaign is underway, there will be several ways to find out!

1. Red A-frame ‘NO PARKING’ signs will be placed on every residential street (either> Green or Grey Routes, depending on which route is being cleared) in advance of plows coming through. These signs will be placed a minimum of 12 hours in advance of plowing, and residents cannot park until the signs have been removed.
2. Sign up for Notify Red Deer to get a text, email, or phone call to remind you it’s time to move your vehicle.
3. Check the Snow Map for where we've completed and where we'll be next (and parking bans remain in effect).
4. Watch our social media for updates.

By signing up for Notify Red Deer, you can receive your choice of text, email or phone notification about when plowing is scheduled on your street so you can avoid a ticket and move your vehicle.

Yes, when you sign up for Notify Red Deer, you can enter any location that you wish to receive alerts for (home, work, school or daycare, family members' homes). You will then receive Snow Zone alerts for all addresses entered in Notify Red Deer.

Canada Post clears snow in front of community mailboxes. Visit their website to submit an online request to have an area cleared.