Whereas the Provincial Ministry of Transportation MOTI is responsible for the clearing of snow off arterial highways across British Columbia, including within municipal boundaries; And whereas the Provincial MOTI has signed contracts with external companies to fulfill this responsibility, each of which is to last for ten years from signing; And whereas residents of municipalities expect their city authorities to promptly and appropriately deal with snow removal: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to work closely with municipalities to identify any flaws or deficiencies in snow-clearing on arterial routes, and to relay an expectation to their contractors that reasonable municipal requests be heeded through the duration of the contract; And be it further resolved that the provincial government involve municipal authorities in setting standards for snow clearance when the contracts are renewed.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff and maintenance contractors have a history of working collaboratively with municipalities and stakeholders, and this relationship is key to the successful delivery of effective road maintenance along arterial roads. Our Highway Maintenance Quality Plan includes the capture of stakeholder feedback regarding their experience on the roads and their interactions with the maintenance contractor in their local community. Local governments and stakeholders such as emergency services, school districts, and local industry or tourism, are regularly consulted by District staff to provide an assessment of the contractors performance back to the ministry. Feedback received is shared with contractors to enhance their service delivery in a proactive manner, for the benefit of the public during the term of the maintenance contract, promoting positive and supportive relationships with local governments. As we get closer to the next procurement cycle of maintenance contracts, we will ensure that local feedback from all our districts is considered whilst reviewing and updating maintenance standards.