By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Increased sidewalk snow removal to allow for better accessibility at Chatham-Kent transit stops will be considered in municipal budget deliberations this fall.
This coming after a motion from Chatham Coun. Alysson Storey at the May 11 council meeting asking administration to look into boosting the current level of service.
According to Storey, last winter’s deep freeze kept people with accessibility issues from accessing bus services, noting one woman was trapped in her home for a month, unable to reach a nearby stop due to snow.
Storey’s motion to clear access to transit stops on C-K’s arterial roads builds on a report from C-K Public Works recommending a minor increase in service.
“This is the worst winter we’ve seen in a while,” Storey told council, adding she received numerous phone calls and emails from folks struggling to get to the grocery store and medical appointments.
“That was worrying to me,” said Storey, who serves as council’s representative on the Chatham-Kent Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Ryan Brown, director of Public Works for the municipality, said staff will look into how much additional services will cost and report back to council.
Administration will explore which sidewalks could benefit from additional service, he added, but noted increased service would not be available until 2028 due to timing.
Currently, all sidewalk snow clearing is part of the base budget, with the cost born by all residents of Chatham-Kent. At present, clearing one kilometre of sidewalk costs an estimated $350.
Council gave unanimous approval to Storey’s motion.
