$300K ‘Roadway Weather Information System’ approved by council during budget talks

During Saskatoon budget deliberations earlier this week, Saskatoon city council settled on a 3.93 per cent property tax increase for 2023.

That was down from the initially proposed 4.38 per cent, but higher than the rate approved last year of 3.53 per cent.

Chief financial officer Clae Hack said the city appreciates the place that residents and businesses are in, combating “unforeseen times” right now with inflation, and during a world-wide pandemic.

“We do our best to try to balance the services that citizens expect from us, along with a reasonable property tax increase. Through the debates over the last couple of days, I’m confident we got to that reasonable balance,” he said.

However, a long list of capital budget projects was also approved, including two new $300,000 Roadway Weather Information Systems. The system also requires $20,000 in maintenance per year.

City roadways director Goran Saric said the new Roadway Weather Information Systems are local automated atmospheric reporting stations that are combined with sensors embedded in pavement, as well as video cameras. The systems provide continuous information.

“It’s really getting real-time data that can be used for making decisions with regards to the use of proper winter maintenance material, proper application rate, proper timing and … it will allow our supervisors and our team to make more effective decisions when it comes to responding to winter-storm and various weather events in our city,” he said.

That means they can decide things like how, when and where to use liquid de-icer, sand and salt on the roads.

Saric said the technology has been accepted as best practice, and cities like Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton use it. But it will likely be limited to winter use, he said.

“It’s primarily meant to allow for more effective and efficient decision-making during responses to various winter events,” he added.

It won’t likely be used for warnings or to inform the public about flash-flooding events like the one that hit Saskatoon on June 20.

On that day, heavy, continuous rainfall for several hours resulted in flooded streets and underpasses in several east Saskatoon neighbourhoods and on Circle Drive.

Saric said next summer, two 10-metre towers will be installed — one beside Circle Drive east of the North Bridge, and another around Cumberland Park on the north side of 8th Street. They’ll be equipped with video cameras, and sensors will also be installed in the pavement nearby.

He added the new weather systems will prioritize public safety while ensuring the city is environmentally responsible.