Decision comes after the Plante administration was criticized in the past for failing to clear the snow properly.
The news comes as a relief for those who rely on adapted vans or buses for transportation during the winter. Adapted vehicles are equipped with ramps to allow wheelchairs to board, but those ramps don’t work properly when there is accumulation of snow on the sidewalk where the ramp is being deployed.
On Wednesday, the Plante administration announced it would dedicate $200,000 for the upcoming winter in order to keep more than 400 loading zones free from snow and ice. The plan is for crews to clear the snow within eight hours of accumulation measuring more than five centimetres.
Maja Vodanovic, the executive committee member in charge of city services, said the plan was made in consultation with the city ombudsperson’s office and advocates for those with reduced mobility.
In a statement, Marie Turcotte, the director general of Ex Aequo — which lobbies for universal accessibility — said she was pleased with the announcement.