Handi-transit users and service providers can face an uphill battle once heavy snow starts to fall. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Handi-Transit In Winter

Heavy snowfall poses problems for handi-transit

Nov 16, 2021 | 8:00 AM

With another heavy snowfall deposit on the way for Prince Albert, and some freezing rain and harsh wind also thrown into the forecast for good measure, transit services are bracing for some tough conditions.

Those that give transit to people with special needs, however, are facing an even tougher task.

Prince Albert and District Community Service Centre runs transit services for both seniors and those with disabilities. When the city was covered by nearly a foot of snow last week, those services ran into some problems.

“Our challenges would mostly be just obviously trying to get through the snow,” said Angela Dumont, interim CEO of Prince Albert and District Community Service Centre, “and being able to get close enough to the sidewalk so that we can actually put the lift down and get them onto the sidewalk. And, of course, trying to get the wheelchair through the snow on the sidewalk to the business or health center.”

The upcoming snowfall, which Environment Canada believes will deposit 20 to 30 centimeters on Prince Albert, may force them into some cancelations. Dumont said they’ve got to decide whether it’s safe for their drivers to be on the road. In the recent snowfall, they found some buses had trouble navigating the streets.

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“We did have some difficulties,” said Dumont. “We got stuck, I think, four times in the city. We had four buses that got stuck. Other than that, we didn’t have any issues getting people into the buildings so people must’ve been clearing their walks quite quickly.”

Some appointments, however, can’t really be cancelled. Those transit vehicles help get disabled people to everything from grocery stores to work to medical appointments.

“They are definitely a lifeline,” Dumont said. “Our biggest concern is trying to get people to things like dialysis. That’s a really big one.” She added they get as many as 30 drop offs per day for dialysis appointments.

Dumont also said they can’t always restrict their routes to main roads, so sometimes they have to fight their way through uncleared roads.

“We have to do a lot of alleys, unfortunately, with the buses, because some people, that’s the only place their ramps are,” Dumont said. “Obviously, the alleys are not done in Prince Albert…We have had to do some cancelations, for sure.”

Environment Canada is predicting the snow will begin sometime tonight and become especially heavy tomorrow, with the storm likely wrapping up by Thursday.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP