Our first major snowfall has occurred and it was great to see equipment out there and making it easier for us to get around.The following is not meant to be criticism, but rather questions and observations. Some things never seem to change in our snow removal.
When the grades are plowing the streets with medians, (Ospika, Tabor, etc.) why does the snow have to end up on the sidewalk side of the street? Why can't the operators angle the blades and push it to the median side? This way bus stops are kept open. Bus passengers can step directly from the curb onto or off of the bus without fighting a rock hard snowbank.
Also, the buses rear end is not sticking out and impeding traffic. Passenger vehicles can be parked against the curb, and people can leave and enter their cars more safely and not have to contend with a snowbank. When the snow is pushed to curb, then the city has two or three loaders following the graders to remove the windrows from numerous intersections and bus stops. By the way, the removal of snow from bus stops needs improvement. There are few intersections along the median side, and absolutely no bus stops. Seems to me that time and money would be saved.
Let's be a little experimental and give it a try. And we don't need to here excuses like "You know how much extra work that is?" The answer is none. The machine does the work, all the operator does is control levers, pedals and steers the equipment.
Also, why on some streets does the snow have to be hauled away? Why can't the snow be blown onto the greenbelt instead of into trucks and then hauled away?
Same could be done along portions of Domano Boulevard and other streets. My apologies to the truck drivers. Keep up the good work, and lets make this winter's travel more enjoyable and less stressful than last year.
Laurie Korum
Prince George
