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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-94-82 i 4 CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT R. DUPUIS, P. ENG., DIRECTOR HAMPTON,ONTARIO TEL.(416)263-2231 LOB 1J0 987.5039 REPORT TO THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 15, 1982. REPORT NO. WD-94-82. SUBJECT: MAINTENANCE OF HIGHWAY NO. 2. THROUGH NEWTONVILLE. RECOMMENDATION: It is respectfully recommended: 1 . That this report be received for information. REPORT: As Members of Council are aware, Resolution # C-892-82 pertaining to the portion of Highway No. 2 which passes through Newtonville was recently forwarded to the Ministry of Transportation & Communications. Basically, this resolution requested the Ministry to address the problem during the upcoming winter season. Prior to this resolution there had been correspondence with the Ministry on this matter, in response to enquiries from Mr. Sam L. Cureatz, M.P.P. , and a copy of this letter was provided to the Public Works Department. Immediately thereafter, a letter was sent to the Ministry (see attached dated October 21 , 1982) requesting clarification and only recently has a reply been received. In summary of the attached correspondence, it would appear that: 1 . Ministry Policy does not permit that agency to pick up and haul away snow on any of the King's Highways through urban areas. E� 2. Where such pick-up is proven necessary by the Municipality, the latter may, under special arrangement, remove the snow and the Municipality would be eligible for a 50% subsidy from the Province. The Town is not really interested in removing (at it's own cost) snow from roads under the jurisdiction of senior levels of government, even if a 50% Subsidy is available. Funds would have to be budgeted for such works from the tax levy, thereby reducing money available for snow removal operations on the Town's own urban streets. The above dialogue has been between Staff, and the recent Council resolution may exert somewhat more pressure on the Ministry. It is suggested that, before any further action is taken, we should await a response to the resolution. Respectfully submitted, /X5 �/ R.G. Dupuis, P. Eng. , Director of Public Works. d i N vember 5, 1982. RGD:vh RECEIVED NOV 0 k Of Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications 192-10-29 Box 150, Port Hope, Ontario. LlA 3W3 (416) 885-6381 Ex. #31 Corporation of the Town of Newcastle, ? Public Works Department, j Ontario. LOB 1JO Attention: Mr. R.G. Dupuis, P.Eng. , — Director of Public Works Dear Sir: '' `y Reference to your letter of October 21, 1982 regarding snow removal in the Village of Newtonville. We would like to outline our Ministry Directive from our Maintenance Branch concerning Snow Removal. i' SUBJECT: Snow removal from ( 1) Assumed Highways and -, Secondary Roads in Municipalities; ( 2) From Connecting Links in Towns, Villages and Townships. PURPOSE: Criteria for Shared Costs Snow Removal. BACKGROUND The ministry is .responsible for plowing, sanding and salting of all Assumed Highways and Secondary Roads through Municipal- ities. However, this does not include the picking up and hauling away of snow from roadside. POLICY: When such removal on assumed Highway is requested by a Municipality (Township on behalf of a Hamlet or built-up Area, Village, Town or City) , the Ministry will assume 5011 of cost. The Municipality' s share is not subsidizable under its Road Expenditure Bylaw. The plowing and removing of snow from sidewalks will not be eligible for 50�jo contribution under this policy unless, due to narrowness of the roadway, it is necessary to plow con- siderable amounts of snow from the Highway onto the sidewalks. Approval by the District Engineer, to contribute financially must not be given, unless it can be shown that the Ministry's winter maintenance operation has made a significant addition to the cost to the Municipality of sidewalk plowing and snow removal. Every effort must be made to minimize this operation by keeping the windrow of snow clear of the sidewalks. The above mentioned policy as to snow removal is applied to all Assumed Highways passing through similar Villages (Newtonville) throughout the Province. Further to our Ministry Directive I shall try to clarify your questions outlined in your letter of October 22, 1982. (1) It is not the Ministry's Policy to pick—up snow from the shoulders. However through Newtonville, due to the narrowness of the shoulders our plows travel at a reduced -speed clearing the snow back off the shoulders as much as possible and at the same time trying to minimize the operation by keeping the windrow of snow clear of the sidewalk. ( 2) Highway No. 2 is an Assumed King's Highway through the village of Newtonville, (not a Connecting Link) . Ministry responsibility J. is to plow the snow from the pavement surface and the shoulders, ( 3 ) this operation has been going on for numerous years, no change from the past. There has never been a cost to the Town for this operation. �t (4) No we are not suggesting that the Town request permission to remove snow from a King' s Highway, because the Ministry has always plowed the pavement and shoulders through Newtonville. Ile are suggesting if it should be necessary to have snow removal in the Village beyond the operation area that the Ministry has plowed the snow, it is the normal practice in the past and considered preferable that the Municipality or whoever has the authority over the Village perform such work. In most cases whoever performs the work , they ask the District . for financial assistance, that is 50, of the cost providing it can be shown that the Ministry's Winter Maintenance Operation has made a significant addition to the cost. Youna-truly, W.J. eck, KMM/dJP/pcl District Engineer. 0C CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT R.DUPUIS,P.ENO., DIRECTOR HAMPTON,ONTARIO TEL.(416)263.2231 LOB 1J0 9$7.5039 Mr. W.J. Peck, District Engineer, Ministry of Transportation & Communications, Box 150, PORT HOPE. Ontario. L1A 3W3. October 21, 1982. Attention: Mr. K.M. McClelland, District Maintenance Supervisor. Dear Sir: Re: Highway No. 2 throughout the Village of Newtonville. . ,,, A copy of your letter addressed to Mr. Sam L. Cureatz, M.P.P. , (September 28, 1982) has been forward to this office for review and consideration of your comments relative to snow removal and general winter maintenance operations in the subject area. At this time I would request clarification of same, and ask the following: 1 . Why cannot M.T.C. remove the snow from the shoulders? 2• Reference is made to an "assumed highway". Is Highway No. 2. , through Newto'nville, a King's Highway or a Connecting Link? The Town has never known it to be other than a King's Highway, thus assuming that snow ploughing and removal is the responsibility of the Ministry. 3• Why, then, would the Town become financially involved in snow removal on a King's Highway? 4. Is the second last paragraph of your letter suggesting that the Town requests permission to remove snow on a King's Highway, at it's own expense, and that the Town further request some form of subsidy? I I { M.T.C. October 21,1982. _ 2 _ Notwithstanding your response to the above, it is the Town's position that we have neither the authority nor the obligation to remove snow from a King's Highway but, rather, that this is the responsibility of the Ministry. I look forward to your response with interest. Yours truly, R.G. Dupuis, P. Eng. , Director of Public Works. i cc: Mr. S.L. Cureatz, M.P.P. Councillor Diane Hamre. D.N. Smith, M.C.I.P. RGD:vh i I Ontario RECEIVED O CT 1 5 • Ministry of Transportation and Communications 1982-09-28 Box 150, Port Hope, Ontario. L1A 3t,T3 (416) 885-63s1 Ex. 31. Mr. Sam L. Cureatz, M.P.P. Durham East, 909 Simcoe Street North, Suite 4, Oshawa, Ontario. L1G 4W1 Dear Mr. Cureatz: Reference to your letter of September 20th, 1982, requesting that the Ministry arrange for snow removal on the shoulders of Highway #2 throughout the Village of Newtonville, twice during the Winter Season. We are sorry to advise that,we are not in a position to provide such a service to the Village of Newtonville. Our Ministry Policy when such snow removal 'on an assumed highway is requested by a municipality (Township on behalf of a Hamlet or. built- up area, Village, Town Or City), the Ministry will assume 500 of the cost. The Municipality' s share is not subsidizable under its Road Expenditure Bylaw. In view of the above noted Policy, we suggest that you contact the Town of Newcastle and have them make the request in writing to our District for Financial Assistance for Snow Removal in the Village of Newtonville. We trust that we will be hearing from the Toun of Newcastle. Yours truly, K.M. McClelland, District Maintenance Supvr. for: W.J. Peck, j 101M/WJP/pcl District Engineer. I i I