Frequently asked Questions:

STREET/ROAD/SIDEWALK REPAIR

— Public Works Division

To request service to repair a pothole/sidewalk or other road related concerns please contact our Municipal Service Centre at 735-1700 ext. 3000.

STREETLIGHTS

— Manager, Traffic, Parking and Bylaw Operations

Street lights out, on during the day or cycling on and off can be reported to Welland Hydro-Electric System Corporation at 732-1381.

BASEMENT FLOODING

— Public Works Division

To report basement flooding or to request sewer cleaning please contact our Municipal Service Centre at 735-1700 ext. 3000.

SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT LOT GRADING DEPOSITS

— Subdivision Development

The City of Welland enters into subdivision agreements with developers. These subdivision agreements set out various requirements the developer must satisfy in order to fulfill his responsibilities in accordance with the said agreement.

One of the requirements is lot grading. The developer, through his consulting engineer, submits a proposed lot grading plan intended to show how he will deal with storm water in the subdivision. Once approved and accepted by the City, during the approval stage, the City takes securities for the development. The security for lot grading is currently $1000 per lot to a maximum of $50,000 per subdivision. This in essence holds the developer responsible for the lot grading on a per lot basis and the subdivision as a whole, until such time as the lot grading for the subdivision has been approved by the City.

The City is aware that some developers will subsequently charge builders or purchasers of lots (or subsequent builders themselves may directly charge purchasers of lots) various fees for lot grading, security, damage deposits, or other matters, which fees may be equal to or greater than the above-mentioned lot grading deposits.  Unfortunately, these fees have no bearing on the subdivision agreement that the developer has entered into with the City.  These fees are not collected by the developer or the builder on behalf of the City, nor are they passed on to the City, but are collected by the developer and/or the builder pursuant to an agreement between the developer and/or the builder and the subsequent builder or purchaser of the lot.  These fees are enforceable pursuant to these agreements only.  The City is not responsible for the collection of these fees or the return of same, as the City is only obligated to deal with the deposits given by the developer to the City, and any returns of those deposits

REPLACING PRIVATE SEWER CONNECTIONS

— Development Services Department

For information on replacing your sewer connection from your home please contact Development Services Department at 735-1700 extension 2251.

ICE AND SNOW REMOVAL

— Public Works Division

The following is a summary of the city’s policy regarding the provision of Snow Plowing by the Public Works Division of the Engineering, Public Works and Transportation Services Department for all Arterial and Collector Roads, as well as all other City of Welland streets.

A full copy of the policy is available at here.

Program Objectives

The frequency of plowing shall be based on accumulation, intensity, and duration of storm events, and shall continue as long as traffic movement is impeded.

All Roads shall be plowed for the full width as required by current conditions to control accumulated snow and/or ice conditions on the traveled surface of the roadways for the maintenance of road safety and minimization of road hazards.

Level of Service

Snow plowing of City Roads is conducted according to Roadway Designation in the following order:

Arterial and Collector Roads are the first to be cleared.

Arterial and Collector Roads are designated in accordance with average daily traffic volumes ranging from 500 to 1500 vehicles per day, and are outlined in yellow and red, respectively on the map displayed on our web site.  Also included in this category are lower volume Roads that include Bus Routes, and streets with steep grades and/or dangerous curves.

Upon completion of plowing of Arterial and Collector Roads, sanding and salting shall commence to enhance road safety.

Local Roads, Courts and Cul-de-Sacs (all other City of Welland Streets).

These Streets are designated in accordance with an average daily traffic volume of less than 500 vehicles per day, and do not appear colour coded on the map on our web site.  Snow plowing on these City Streets will commence once plowing, sanding and salting operations have been completed on all Arterial and Collector Roads.

Cul-de-Sacs, Courts and similar Streets will be plowed with one pass in order to allow initial access to those areas.  As snow plowing operations continue, those areas will receive further plowing with specialized equipment to improve access.

SNOW CLEARING AND TRAFFIC & PARKING BY-LAW

Please be reminded that in accordance with By-law 89-2000 and the Highway Traffic Act, it is illegal to park on a roadway and obstruct snow clearing operations (24 hours per day seven (7) days a week).  To ensure your vehicle is not ticketed and/or towed, follow your local weather reports and make arrangements to have your vehicle relocated to an area off the roadway when snow clearing may be required.  (If you are a Snow Clearing Parking Permit holder, this does not apply to you).  Contact the Traffic and Parking Clerk at ext. 2155 in regards to Snow Clearing Parking Permit inquiries.

GARBAGE/RECYCLING COLLECTION

All trash collection is conducted by Regional Niagara – solid waste management.  For information on garbage collection visit the Niagara Regional website.

WEEKLY CURBSIDE GARBAGE CONTAINER LIMITS   

For information on weekly curbside garbage container limits visit the Niagara Regional website.

Information on where to purchase Garbage Tags can be found the the Niagara Regional website.

GETTING RID OF HOUSEHOLD JUNK

For information on getting rid of household junk visit the Niagara Regional website.

LEAF COLLECTION

For information on leaf collection visit the Niagara Regional website.

SHUT-OFFS/TURN-ON SUPPLY OF WATER

For an emergency or planned shut-off/turn-on of the water supply to your building call the     Finance Clerk at 735-1700 ext. 2178.  Outside the normal work hours of Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. contact the Municipal Service Centre at 905-735-1700 ext. 3000.

During Business Hours   

Water Turn-off             $ 60
Water Turn-on             $ 60
Total                             $120

After Business Hours, Sundays and Statutory Holidays

Water Turn-off             $206
Water Turn-on             $206
Total                             $412

STREET SIGNS-MISSING/DAMAGED

Erection of a Stop Sign

Stop signs are erected at intersection in accordance with the guidelines in the Ontario Traffic Manual.  In addition to staff carrying out a technical review of the area you may be requested to gather signatures on a petition form provided to you.  Upon receipt of the petition form City’s technical review staff prepares a report with recommendations to the General Committee or Council.  The petitioner and homeowners in the vicinity of the intersection are provided with a copy of this report and are invited to attend the committee meeting to partake in the discussions or to listen.  The General Committee recommendation is then submitted to City Council for final approval.  If you feel a Stop sign is warranted in your neighbourhood please feel free to call our Traffic and Parking Services Section at 735-1700 extension 2212.

Missing/Damaged Signs

To report a missing or damaged sign contact the Municipal Service Centre at 735-1700 ext. 3000. 

Neighbourhood Speed Watch Program

What can be done about speeding in my neighbourhood?

One of the most frequent requests made is the need to address speeding along residential streets.  The Neighbourhood Watch Program is intended to give all motorists a “friendly reminder” of their speed in residential neighbourhoods.  Most people that are speeding are local residents caught in the daily rush.  These people are your neighbours and friends, responsible people who are committed to safe and peaceful neighbourhoods.  If you are interested in more information or would like to participate in this program, please call the Traffic & Parking Services Section at 735-1700 extension 2212.

Traffic Signals

Why is the WALKING PERSON indication not long enough to cross the street before the FLASHING HAND is displayed?

There is a common misunderstanding that the WALKING PERSON indication should be displayed the entire time required to cross the street.  The WALKING PERSON indication tells pedestrians that they may begin to cross.  The pedestrian protection does not end when the WALKING PERSON indication ends and the FLASHING HAND indication begins.  The FLASHING HAND indication means don’t start to cross.  It continues to provide protection for pedestrians who began their crossing during the WALKING PERSON interval and tells the late arrivals not to begin to cross.

Why do I have to wait so long for a signal to change?

At actuated traffic signals, the green phase for the side street is ‘triggered” with the detection of a vehicle or the push of a pedestrian push button.  Actuated signals are defined as intersections with pushbuttons for pedestrians and detectors for vehicles.  The length of the delay before the light changes to green depends on when the “call” for a green on the side street was received and if the main street traffic demand has been satisfied.  In this case, the side street movement can only be serviced after the main street traffic stream has passed through the intersection.  The wait time on the side street can vary from a few seconds to upwards of two minutes.

If you have further questions on the operations of traffic signals, contact the Regional Municipality of Niagara link on the Regional website.

Special Events

If you or your organization is interested in hosting an event (block party, street dance, filming, parade, cycling or running event, etc.) on the City’s’ right-of-way please contact the SEART Co-ordinator at 735-1700 extension 2205.  A Road Use Special Event Application form will be provided at a cost of $125.00.  Upon receipt of the completed application form, staff will contact you to discuss your event and identify any conditions that may be required prior to the application being approved i.e. Insurance.  For large events, a meeting may be held with the organizer and affected authorities.

For Road Occupancy Permits please contact the Traffic & Parking Operations Technician @ 735-1700 extension 2212, and an application form will be provided at a cost of $125.00.