When winter conditions hit, we're ready. Our staff work to clear travel routes in a priority sequence, plowing and salting major roads, transit corridors, and connector routes, as well as particularly hazardous areas. The City also works to clear high-priority sidewalks, including pedestrian bridge crossings, walkways that provide access to transit centres, and walkways around civic facilities like the Recreation Complex, City Hall, Port Moody Public Library, and the Inlet Centre Fire Hall. 

Help us keep sidewalks clear and safe

We can all do our part to keep our community safe when winter brings snow and ice. You can help by making sure you are aware of your responsibilities as outlined in our Sidewalk and Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw. Residents, strata corporations, and businesses must remove snow and ice from sidewalks and curb letdowns bordering their property within 24 hours of a snowfall or storm event, or by 10am if the property is located on a Priority Pedestrian Route.

Priority Pedestrian Routes

If the sidewalk bordering your property is a Priority Pedestrian Route, you must remove snow or ice by 10am every day.

Priority Pedestrian Routes
Street name Sections Sides 

St. Johns St./Barnet Highway 

From Queens St. to Coquitlam border/ Balmoral Dr. 

North and south 

Clarke St.

From Queens St.to Moody St.

South 

Dewdney Trunk Rd.

From St. Johns St. to Viewmount Dr.

North and south 

Moody St. 

From Clarke St.to St. Johns St.

East and west 

Hugh St.

From Spring St. to St. Johns St.

East 

Williams St.

From Spring St. to St. Johns St.

East and west  

Murray St./Guildford Way 

From Klahanie Dr. (West) to Ungless Way

North and south

Ioco Rd.

From Ungless Way to Barnet Highway 

East and west

Ungless Way 

From Ioco Rd. to Guildford Way 

South 

 

Failure to keep your sidewalk clear may result in a fine of $100. Failure to remove snow or ice from a Priority Pedestrian Route may result in a fine of $100 for a first offence and up to $500 for subsequent recurrences.

Be a good neighbour

Here are some ways you can help during or after a snowfall event:

  • please help others who may need assistance with shovelling snow;
  • remember to clear any catch basins adjacent to your property so that melting snow doesn't cause flooding;
  • remove snow from in front of fire hydrants so first responders have easy access in an emergency;
  • do not shovel snow from sidewalks or driveways onto the road, as this creates more work for snow plows and may result in a plow pushing the snow back onto your driveway (instead, face your house and pile the white stuff to the left of your driveway - on your property, not on the road or sidewalk - as this gives you a better line of sight to approaching traffic); and
  • during or after a snowfall, avoid parking on public roads so that your vehicle does not obstruct snow removal equipment.

Has someone helped you out by shoveling snow? Nominate them to be a Snow Star.

Response priorities

We prioritize how we clear roads and pedestrian areas in order to provide a high level of safety on busier routes. 

 Road priorities and response map

We classify our roads as Priority 1, 2, or 3:

  • Priority 1 roads are major routes that allow movement across the city and connect with regional roads and highways. These routes must be clear of snow and ice to allow movement of emergency vehicles and buses.
  • Priority 2 roads are collector routes. They are often more than 200 metres long and connect to Priority 3 routes. These roads can also be routes that access neighbourhood local roads and key infrastructure, such as:
    • water reservoirs
    • water pump stations
    • sewer lift stations

Any bus routes that are not included in Priority 1 are included in Priority 2.

  • Priority 3 roads include all other local roads that are usually less than 200 metres and connect to Priority 2 routes. We service Priority 3 roads during normal weekday business hours, unless special circumstances require an immediate response.

View a map of the Snow Response Priorities for Roads (large PDF).
 Pedestrian area priorities and response map

We maintain sidewalks that front City property, as well as crosswalks, medians, letdowns, bus stops, and pedestrian overpasses. 

Priority 1 pedestrian areas includes pedestrian areas within 800 metres of Inlet Centre and Moody Centre SkyTrain stations.

To allow the safe movement of pedestrians, we will remove snow and ice from Priority 1:

  • crosswalks
  • medians
  • letdowns
  • bus stops
  • sidewalks
  • overpasses
  • walkways

We maintain these routes at all times when feasible, including outside of normal business hours.

Priority 2 pedestrian areas includes pedestrian areas that are farther than 800 metres from Inlet Centre and Moody Centre SkyTrain stations. We clear these areas after snowfall ends, during our normal weekday business hours.

View a map of the Snow Response Priorities for Pedestrian Areas (PDF).
 Parks priorities and response map

We maintain sidewalk and curb letdowns in City parks.

View a map of our Parks Snow and Ice Control Response (PDF).

Garbage and recycling during weather events

Waste collection may be delayed or cancelled during extreme weather events. Download our Solid waste app to receive alerts and updates so you can stay informed. 

Winter road maintenance equipment

We use the following equipment for winter road maintenance:

  • 1 tandem-axle snow plow with brine unit;
  • 2 single-axle snow plows;
  • 2 one-ton snow plows;
  • 2 backhoe loaders; and
  • 1 small tractor

We use the following equipment in parks for sidewalk and parking lot maintenance:

  • 2 one-ton outfitted with snow plows and salters;
  • 2 front end loader tractors;
  • 2 snowblowers units;
  • Kubota RTV set up with snow plow and salter; and
  • rental bobcat skid steer loader.