Toronto prioritizes sidewalk snow clearance and begins local street removal

City manager Paul Johnson and Mayor Olivia Chow said crews have been sent to clear sidewalks after a winter storm and that snow removal began near hospitals and will expand to highways, bridges and narrow local roads; orange signs will be posted 24 hours before residential street clearance.

Toronto has increased sidewalk plowing and started local street snow removal after a weekend winter storm. City manager Paul Johnson acknowledged the city was not doing enough and said more crews and inspectors were deployed. He said the city hopes to improve performance within the next 24-hour cycle. Mayor Olivia Chow said removal began Tuesday evening around hospitals and will move to highways, bridges and narrow local roads. Key points: - Sidewalk plowing became the city's top service request after the storm, Paul Johnson said. - More crews were sent out and additional inspectors will check that work is completed properly, with officials aiming to improve within the next 24-hour cycle. - Snow removal started around hospitals Tuesday evening and will expand to highways, bridges and narrow local roads, Mayor Olivia Chow said. - Orange signs will be posted on residential roads 24 hours before city crews arrive for snow clearance. - Officials said the signs are a request to move cars so crews can access streets and are not a notice of fines or towing for permit holders, according to Johnson. - City officials noted that sidewalks are mostly assigned to contractors, that snow removal was not part of the city's work last year, and that the city set aside reserve funds for removal and remains within budget. Summary: City officials described steps to clear sidewalks and expand snow removal to local streets, highlighting increased crews, inspectors and staged signage. They emphasized easing passage for people with strollers and mobility aids. Officials said they will monitor progress over the next 24 hours to assess improvements.