Transportation

City of Temiskaming Shores Transportation Study 

Notice of Completion - May 2024

Presentation Information - March 2024

Presentation Information - November 2023

When 
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
First Session | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Second Session | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm 

Where
City Hall | 325 Farr Dr, Haileybury, ON P0J 1K0

The Study
The City of Temiskaming Shores is initiating a Transportation Study to investigate the current transportation network related problems within the City; particularly two of its downtown cores. The Transportation Study will be the City’s blueprint for strategic transportation planning and direction for the future. The Transportation Study will establish a transportation system to better serve residents, employers, employees, and visitors while accommodating all modes of transportation (e.g., public transit, commuter travel, commercial vehicles, and active transportation). There is a unique opportunity through this study to create a real sense of place, a community where people choose to meet, dine, and stay for a while instead of driving through; a city where people can safely and pleasantly travel with two feet or two wheels.

The Process
The study will evaluate City-wide transport operations to develop network solutions with focus on the Downtown Cores for all modes of mobility including Active & Micro-Mobility, Transit, Automobile, Smart & Emerging Mobility, Freight & Goods Movement and Downtown Parking.
In tandem with network solutions, the Study will also develop supporting policies that will aid the City in guiding future development and operations in a manner that supports planned mode share changes, new sustainable mobility links, and maintains safe streets for all road users such as Road Classification & Cross-Sections, Vision Zero Policy (Traffic Calming), Intersection Implementation Policy, Transportation Demand Management Policies, etc.

The Purpose
The purpose of this Public Open House (POH) is to gather stakeholder feedback on the Study, provide information on project background, planning context, and approach, assessment of the existing transportation network, development of alternative solutions and their evaluation, recommendations based on the evaluation and next steps. Members of the Project Team will be available to discuss the study with you and address any issues or questions you may have.
Following the POH, digital copies of the displaying materials will be posted to the project webpage at: www.temiskamingshores.ca/en/resident/downtown-cores-mobility-study.aspx or you may scan the QR code. An online survey will also be made available on the project webpage.

We Want to Hear from You
Public and agency consultation is an important component of the project. You are encouraged to look over the POH display materials and provide any comments or concerns to the Project Team, via the project website or at the contact information below.

If you are interested in providing comments or receiving further information on this project, please contact: 
Amar Lad
Consultant Project Manager
TYLin International Canada Inc.
8800 Dufferin Street Suite 200
Vaughan, ON  L4K 0C5, Canada
Phone: 905.738.5700
Email: amar.lad@tylin.com

Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record and will be released, if requested, to any person.

Notice first issued February 23, 2023

The City of Temiskaming Shores initiated a Transportation Study to assess the current transportation network and identify improvements to its two downtown cores in New Liskeard and Haileybury.

The below document will be the City’s blueprint for strategic transportation planning and direction for the future. It aims to establish an improved transportation system in the City to better serve residents, employers, employees, and visitors while accommodating all modes of transportation including public transit, commuter travel, commercial vehicles, and active transportation.

City of Temiskaming Shores Downtown Cores Transportation Study - Mobility Plan Report

Appendix A - Existing Synchro and SimTraffic Report

Appendix B - Consultation Materials

Appendix C - Future Do-Nothing Scenario Synchro and SimTraffic Reports

Appendix D - Future Do-Nothing Scenario Signal Warrants

Appendix E - Future Do-Nothing Scenario AWSC Warrants

Appendix F - Existing Line-of-Sight Analysis

Appendix G - Line Work

Appendix H - Costing Framework

Potholes are formed when water gets below the surface of the road through cracks in the pavement and then expands and contracts. When it’s cold, the water freezes and expands causing the pavement to bend or crack. Then when the weather gets milder, the ice melts and the pavement contracts, leaving areas where more water can get in. If this freeze/thaw cycle happens many times, the road can become very weak. Regular weight of traffic passing over weakened areas can cause the surface of the road to collapse which causes potholes.

Due to this freeze-thaw cycle, pothole issues are most common in the late winter and early spring.
The City uses its own crews to patch potholes year-round. Patching efforts typically ramp-up during the late winter and early spring periods as needed.

We predominantly use cold mix for patching in the winter and blown bitumen emulsion mix in the summer months. The city may also require asphalt patching depending on the severity of the pothole. However, during the winter, local asphalt plants shut down; therefore cold mix patching is used. 

The City of Temiskaming Shores is responsible for 212 km of roadway and approximately 111 km is paved. These roads are paved, treated or gravel and range from class 1 to 6 and every one of these assets are crucial to the functionality of the city. Therefore, it’s important that all levels of maintenance are performed in order to keep a safe and healthy transportation network.

Replacing asphalt can be performed in many different ways that include Resurfacing, Rehabilitation or full reconstruction. These different forms of maintenance exist and are chosen for different reasons wither it’s in conjunction with infrastructure repair or strictly financial.

The City has a sidewalk inspection and spot repair program for the maintenance of the approximately 40 kilometers of city-owned sidewalk. If a sidewalk is found to be broken or raised a temporary patch will be put in place or grinding of the sidewalk will be carried out as quickly as possible. If required, the sidewalk slab(s) will be noted for replacement at a later date as part of the annual sidewalk repair program. However, unplanned sidewalk repairs or replacement may be required due to infrastructure repairs.

Street light maintenance and installation provide an overall safe environment for vehicles and pedestrians during periods of diminished light or darkness. Lighting on roadways and walkways is currently maintained by Miller Maintenance Group on behalf of the city of Temiskaming Shores.

To report concerns with street lighting, contact the public works department at 705-647-6220.
Common street light maintenance issues include:

• Burnt out lights
• Flickering lights
• Lights left on throughout the day 
• Damaged poles
• Opened lens

Traffic signs are meant to guide, warn and regulate traffic flow. A city crew maintains all existing signs and replaces them when they wear out or when they get damaged (temporary signs may be installed during the winter season), and installing new system elements when approved by the appropriate authority.

Half load restrictions are generally from April to June. Exact dates are set annually, dependent on road conditions and temperatures. 

The annual half load restrictions on Municipal roads takes effect on April 1, 2025 and will remain in place until June 31, 2025, unless indicated otherwise.

When half load restrictions are in effect, a road is off-limits to vehicles exceeding 5 tonnes per axle. However, there may be alternate routes that can be taken to reach a destination. 

Why

Roads become softer and weaker during the spring thaw. Heavy vehicle traffic on these roadways can cause permanent damage. Following half load restrictions reduces the potential for any unnecessary road repairs or reconstruction. 

Oversize/Overweight Permit

Motorists are subject to weight and dimensions restrictions set out in the Highway Traffic Act. An Oversize/Overweight Permit is required for anyone wanting to move loads exceeding Ontario Ministry of Transportation legislated limits for height, length, width, or weight year-around. Exemptions aren't typically granted during the half load restriction period. 

Highway Traffic Act

The annual spring clean-up includes sweeping all paved roads and some hard surfaces, to remove debris and materials that have accumulated throughout the winter season and could pose dangers to motorists, pedestrians/cyclists as well as clogging up catch basins and inlets.

Street Sweeping Phases

Street sweeping is done in several phases:

• Sidewalks and bus stop pads are cleaned first by using sidewalk sweepers.
• City streets are swept clean by the use of a mechanical sweeper truck and other equipment such as loaders with special attachments and dump trucks.
• Water is first sprayed onto the road to minimize airborne dust and then the material is picked-up leaving behind a much cleaner surface.

This operation may be repeated several times depending on the amount of material needed to be removed.

City staff conduct Roadside Brushing of City right-of-ways, especially along City Sidewalks to eliminate any obstruction.

If residents have overhanging hedges or trees on Municipal right-of-ways, we ask the homeowner to begin trimming.

If not, city staff will be cutting hedges and brushing trees back, 

Residents are asked to help crews clean the city by not parking vehicles on the streets while street sweeping activities are being conducted in the area.

Typical hours of operations are Monday to Friday, between 6:30am and 3pm beginning in April (weather dependant). Hours of operation may also very depending on the location that needs to be swept.

Weather Monitoring Season | October 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026

Winter Maintenance Season | On or about November 1, 2025 to April 15, 2026

Although winter weather is often random and unpredictable, city snow removal efforts are not. The city is committed to providing a high level of snow removal service throughout the winter season. Plowing, sanding and salting are performed with consideration to safety, environmental and budget concerns. Your cooperation in helping to keep streets clean and safe is appreciated.

2025-2026 Winter Operations Plan

No Overnight Parking Notice

Effective November 1 to March 31 Every Year

By-law No. 2012-101 prohibits the parking of vehicles on municipal streets or City-owned parking lots between the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. Please remove vehicles from municipal areas by 11:00 p.m. as Winter Crews begin snow removal.

By-law No. 2012-101, to regular traffic and parking | Section 5.9 of schedule “A”
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on any street of city owned parking lot between the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. during the period between November 1st in one year to March 31st of the next year,

Bylaw No. 2012-019, to prohibit and regulate unusual noise | Section 4.7, exemptions, snow removal
None of the provisions of this by-law shall apply to any vehicle of the Corporation of their agents working on behalf of the Corporation to perform snow removal, snow plowing or snow clearing on any Municipal Highways and properties or to private contractors of persons performing  snow removal, snow plowing or snow clearing.

The City has developed carefully planned levels of winter road service to combat the diverse weather conditions we see every winter. A combination of City-owned trucks and rented units provide effective snow plowing and removal services to city roads through our Priority and Secondary route system. 

This system assigns priority to all major roads with the highest traffic in the city. To ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians, these major routes are serviced on a 24/7 basis when necessary. Secondary routes (all residential streets in the city) are attended to regularly, but less often than Priority routes.

With a system of service based around snow levels and maintenance times, we can ensure clean and safe roads are maintained as efficiently as possible. A combined fleet of plow trucks, sanders, graders and sidewalk machines are responsible to maintain Priority routes 24/7 and Secondary routes.

Note: The city’s levels of winter maintenance service meet or exceed the Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways.

General Service Standards

Road Service Standards

Sidewalk Service Standards 

The Plan assigns priority to all major roads with the highest traffic in the city. To ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians, these major routes are serviced on a 24/7 basis when necessary and are maintained as bare as possible. Secondary routes (all residential streets in the city) are attended to regularly, but less often than Priority routes and are maintained in a snow packed condition. 

Primary Road Routes

• A maximum level of approximately 5cm of fallen snow is permitted to remain on the road.
• Cleanup to be completed approximately 6 hours after end of snowfall

• Ice formation prevention starts approximately 8 hours previous to an alleged formation of ice.

• Treatment of icy roadways expires in 4 hours.

Secondary Road Routes

• A maximum level of approximately 8cm of fallen snow is permitted to remain on the road.

• Cleanup completion dependent upon when snowfall concludes 12 hours after end of snowfall.

• Ice formation prevention starts approximately 16 hours previous to an alleged formation of ice.

• Treatment of icy roadways expires in 8 hours.

View or print a copy of the below Road Plowing Route for primary, secondary and highway plowing routes.

Route A - Haileybury South

Route B - North Cobalt

Route C - Haileybury West

Route D - New Liskeard South

Route E - New Liskeard Central

Route F - New Liskeard North

Route G - Dymond West

Route H - Dymond East

Route I - Highway 

Sidewalks are classified in accordance with the associated pedestrian traffic and proximity to schools, seniors’ buildings, downtown business areas and high-volume roadways. Sidewalks are maintained in a snow packed condition. When possible sidewalk machines start later than plowing operations, for snow removal and disposal, to address snow that may be pushed onto pathways during snow plowing operations.

Note: Not all municipal sidewalks are maintained during winter operations.

Primary Sidewalk Routes

• A maximum level of approximately 5cm of fallen snow is permitted to remain on the sidewalk.
• Cleanup completion dependent on the amount of fallen snow and associated tools used.

Secondary Sidewalk Routes

• A maximum level of approximately 8cm of fallen snow is permitted to remain on the sidewalk.
• Cleanup completion dependent on the amount of fallen snow and associated tools used.

View or print a copy of the below Sidewalk Snow Removal Route for primary, secondary and highway plowing routes.

01 - New Liskeard

02 - Haileybury

The Corporation of the City of Temiskaming Shores is responsible for winter maintenance on 210 km of paved roads, 172.km of unpaved roads, 40 km of sidewalk, 9km of paths and trails, and other locations that consist of parking lots, bus stops, laneways and facilities.

Winter operations are carried out by a combination of full-time road employees and, as required, contractor services, including three Heavy Equipment Operator / Crew Leaders, one Heavy Equipment / Crew Leader – Mechanic, Equipment Operators and Water and Sewer Operators reporting to the Superintendents. City road crews will then be separated into Day, Evening, Night and weekend shift to deliver these services to the public.

Winter Event is a weather condition affecting roads such as snowfall, wind blown snow, freezing rain, frost, black ice, etc. to which a winter event response is required.

Winter Event Response is a services of winter maintenance activities performed in response to a winter event.

Declaration of Significant Weather Event is decided by the municipality. Public notice for declaring the beginning or end of a significant weather event shall be posted on the municipal website or social media page. Services effected by significant weather events include:

• Temiskaming Transit (Bus)
• Curbside Collection (Garbage and recycling)
• Winter Maintained Operations (Snow plowing and sanding of roads and sidewalks)

Priority 1 Locations | Greater than 60cm of snow

Priority 2 Locations | Greater than 60cm of snow

As a result of snow plowing operations, snow accumulates at the side of roads as windrows or mounds. The City starts snow removal operations when these windrows reach volumes that create a nuisance or hazard to pedestrians and motorists and to maintain capacity for subsequent snowfalls.

The objective is to commence removal operations in Priority 1 locations as soon as practicable after becoming aware that the snow bank accumulation is greater than 60cm and 120cm in Priority 2 locations.

Experience over the years has shown that the City has the capability and capacity to remove and dispose of 2700 cubic meters of snow per night shift. One average snowstorm requires three night shifts to complete all required removal work in approved designated areas.

Snow removal involves the use of in-house snow blowers, front-end loaders, motor graders and city owned dump trucks as well as contracted dump trucks. 

By-law 2009-159, Regulate Removal and Relocation of Snow No person shall;

• Deposit any snow, ice or other debris on City property or street from their property or other private property.
• Move snow within a street or allow snow to be moved from one side of the cleared portion of the street intended for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

After the winter season expires Corporation of the City of Temiskaming Shores undertakes the following tasks to decommission winter operations.

Two weeks after the winter season ends

• Cease regularly scheduled winter night patrols.
• Continue monitoring weather forecasts. Assign night patrol shift if forecast indicates an overnight winter event is probable. 
• Decommission 50% on the fleet.

One month after the winter season ends

• Cease all winter highway maintenance operations.
• Decommission the remainder of the equipment, providing weather forecasts warrant the decommissioning. 

 Unfortunately, plow drivers cannot control the amount of snow that leaves the end of the wing plow. All residents in Temiskaming Shores are responsible for the removal of driveway windows as the city does not provide this service. A private contractor may be a suitable option for those looking for this level of service.

Salt is applied to primary routes only. The level of service on primary routes is to keep them as bare as possible. These are roads that include bus routes, roads with heavy traffic or higher speeds or steep grades. Pickled sand (sand mixed with roughly 5% salt) is applied to secondary routes. The level of service on these roads is to maintain a snow-packed condition. The pickled sand provides traction for drivers and pedestrians to get around safely on these roads.

 In a continuing snow storm, we apply salt to the road surface early in the storm. This causes a melting action that prevents snow that falls later from freezing to the road surface. When the plow does come along, the road gets cleaned down to the pavement and we do not get a frozen snow pack that is very difficult and expensive to remove later.

Reasons a plow might be travelling with the blade up:

• The plow is heading to and from routes.
• Salt was recently put on that section of road, so plow drivers will lift the blades in order to not scrape off the freshly laid salt.
• Blades are typically up when the trucks are performing anti-icing due to freezing rain warning.

 For larger snow falls it is common to do an initial pass to clear streets and then follow up with a second pass to clear and new fallen and residual snow and to wing back the banks make room for snow storage that will be required for future storms. Residential streets are also plowed when they become soft or slushy to prevent ruts, potholes and icy conditions from developing when the temperature drops and the road re-freezes. When milder temperatures are experienced it also causes additional melt water that can lead to pooling of water and other drainage/flooding problems if catch basins are covered with ice and snow. Slush is removed from the edge of road to improve drainage leading to and around catch basins during the plowing process.

We try to get one side of the street open on as many streets as possible as soon as possible and then come back to clear the rest. Sidewalk priorities include school zones, commercial buildings, etc. which generate a high level of pedestrian traffic.

 We frequently have issues with snow plows filling in sidewalks that are in close proximity to the road. Staff do their best to coordinate sidewalk clearing to take place following road plowing however this is difficult during larger and extended storms when multiple passes are required to clear roads. Sidewalk machines with blowers travel much slower than road plows making it difficult to keep up.
This issue is especially common on bridges: bridge decks are cleared on a regular basis but can become built up with snow overtime due to limited space for snow storage on these structures. Road crews carries out snow lift/removals on bridges as required to make room for continued maintenance.

The city has a system of priority routes on arterial roads and secondary routes on residential roads that are each assigned to various operations. Sidewalk plows often travel on roads to and from their route or work location as it is a quicker method of travel than by sidewalk.