Okay, again as requested in the comments from the first entry of 2009, readers Dan, Sungsu and Coffee Barista were interested in seeing the snow plans from SkyTrain and CMBC.

I’ve posted SkyTrain’s snow plan, and now here’s the snow plan from CMBC.

Coast Mountain Bus Company’s Adverse Weather Plan

OVERVIEW

Coast Mountain Bus Company’s Customer Service Support/Service Delivery Division has developed this System Operations Service Level Response Plan for use during significant events. These events include various weather conditions such as snow, ice, wind, flood, and incidents including Hazmat, Labour Disputes and Major Service Disruptions. Alerts will be sent out advising on the impact these events have to our service whether it is a localized or system wide.

The plan is intended to co-ordinate the efforts of the System Operations Team, and to ensure that their staff act with the information and authority required to provide a safe service and a minimum amount of disruption to our customers. This plan is a general overview for significant incidents and adverse weather conditions and the use of the level system. A transit centre may require their own more detailed plan that addresses their unique circumstances.

WEATHER UPDATES

System and Weather updates can be used to notify members of the system operations team of current conditions, even though a Level threshold has not been met.

SYSTEM OPERATIONS SERVICE LEVEL STATUS

CMBC’s System Operations Service Level system includes a paging system to alert and update members of the System Operations Team. Below is the colour coded status bar.

Systems Operations Service Status: Normal
NORMAL	LEVEL 1	LEVEL 2	LEVEL 3

Below is a table showing what response level will be used for each situation

Incident	Forecast/Threat	Confirmed Occurrence
Hazmat, Health Epidemic, Civil Unrest, Major Service Disruptions	Level 1	Level 2: less than three centres’ routes affected Level 3: greater than two centres’ routes affected
Evacuation	Level 1	Level 2: less than 12 hours duration Level 3: greater than 12 hours duration
Labour Dispute	Level 1	Level 3
Weather Condition
Snow, Ice, Wind, Flood	Level 1	Level 2: less than three centres’ routes affected Level 3: greater than two centres’ routes affected

If a Level 3 condition lasts for a prolonged period of time, the opening of CMBC’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) will be considered to support the day of operation.

Routine transit operations continue.

Members of the System Operations Team are advised by receiving a Level 1 page that there is a warning of severe weather condition or the need of awareness to an adverse incident that has no impact to service. No response is required.

ROUTINE TRANSIT OPERATIONS CONTINUE

TCOMM DUTY MANAGER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor the conditions and transit operations
• Send out Level 1 page to the System Operations Team
• Update the System Operations Service Level Status on the Tcomm Sharepoint Site
• Obtain regular updates of the significant incident through outside agencies (police, fire, PEP) and transit supervisors. If weather related, monitor Environment Canada’s website
• Ensure there is enough TComm and Transit Supervisor coverage
• If the forecast is for snow or ice, confirm that all Transit properties are pre-salted in anticipation of the event
• If the situation involves any weather condition(snow, ice, flood, wind) ensure all requests, confirmations and locations of contractors’ services are recorded in the CIR and the Adverse Weather Log
• If the advisory is for a windstorm ensure there is adequate Trolley Overhead Crew coverage

DEPOT MANAGER OR DESIGNATE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be aware of the level status and the prediction of an event
• Ready transit centre staff in preparation of pending event

MAINTENANCE MANAGER OR DESIGNATE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be aware of the level status and the prediction of an event
• Ready maintenance staff in preparation of pending event
• If the advisory is for snow or ice, ensure there are enough supplies such as salt for both maintenance and Transit Supervisors to meet the demand

Transit Operations are being impacted in some areas. Reroutes are in effect and service to our customers is disrupted.

TRANSIT OPERATIONS ARE IMPACTED IN LOCALIZED AREAS.

TCOMM DUTY MANAGER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assume all the responsibilities at Level 1
• Send out Level 2 alert to the System Operations Team
• Update the System Operations Service Level Status on the Tcomm Sharepoint Site
• Page weather and/or service conditions regularly to the System Operations Team
• Keep up to date with TComm reports of weather conditions in all service areas
• Advise Corporate Communications and senior management of changes to service
• Ensure Customer Information is notified of problem areas and any cancellation of services
• Keep in touch with all Depot Managers or their designate during office hours on local area disruptions
• Support outside agencies(police, fire, Emergency Health Services, Provincial Emergency Program, Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre)
• Coordinate all snow management affecting the operation both on the street and at all off street bus loops
• Initiate Connectivity Conference Calls if requested by Translink Subs
• In the case of flooding call contractor for sand bagging of properties effected
• In the case of evacuation ensure Transit Supervisors and Security are supporting evacuation plan

DEPOT MANAGER OR DESIGNATE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assume all the responsibilities at Level 1
• If your depot is affected, report to your depot. Call the Duty Manager to confirm your arrival or designates’ arrival.
• Call in additional personnel to assist as needed at their depot. This includes Service Delivery Supervisors, Depot Staff, Operators, and Transit Supervisors
• Advise the TComm Duty Manager of your requirements. For example snow and/or ice clearance and salting of employee parking and sidewalks
• In the case of evacuation, execute Evacuation and Shut down Procedures, advise the Duty Manager.

MAINTENANCE MANAGER OR DESIGNATE RESPONSIBILITES

• Assume all the responsibilities at Level 1
• Call in additional personnel to assist as needed at their garage. This includes Mechanics, Dispatchers, and Service Personnel
• Determine when snow and/or ice clearing from bus parking areas at all garage locations is required. Ensure contact is made with the contractor when they are on site to ensure Transit Centres needs are met
• Ensure all pedestrian and traffic areas around the depot and operations buildings are clear of snow and salt is spread
• In the case of evacuation, execute Evacuation and Shut down Procedures, advise the Duty Manager.

Transit Operations are being significantly impacted by an adverse weather condition or incident. Reroutes are in effect and service to our customers is disrupted.

CMBC’S SYSTEM OPERATIONS PROCEDURES ARE IN FULL EFFECT
THERE IS A MAJOR DISRUPTION TO TRANSIT OPERATIONS

TCOMM DUTY MANAGER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assume all the responsibilities at Level 1 & 2
• Send out Level 3 alert to the System Operations Team
• Update the System Operations Service Level Status on the Tcomm Sharepoint Site
• Report to TComm, if not already on site
• Activate Conference Calls with members of the System Operations Team
• Follow specific protocols pertaining to each significant incident (ex. bomb threat, evacuation procedure, etc)
• Consider EOC Activation Depending on the event

DEPOT MANAGER OR DESIGNATE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assume all the responsibilities at Level 1 & 2
• Participate in Conference Calls with System Operations Team
• Provide support to other depots as needed

MAINTENANCE MANAGER OR DESIGNATE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assume all the responsibilities at Level 1 & 2
• Participate in Conference Calls with System Operations Team
• Provide support to other depots as needed

Snow and Ice

Order of Priority	Attention Required
Transit Centres & Seabus	Snow or Ice Clearing
Bus Loops	Snow or Ice Clearing
Park and Rides	Snow or Ice Clearing
Other Areas (Rectifier Stations)	Snow or Ice Clearing

Transit Supervisors are responsible during snow conditions or freezing temperatures, for salting the landing areas, sidewalks of bus loops and washroom accesses in loops and not in loops in their areas. Salt bins have been positioned at UBC, SFU, Coquitlam Stn., Lougheed Stn., Surrey Central, and Ladner Ex. for salt use on landing trouble areas. Before leaving the depot they must ensure that their vehicles are stocked with a supply of salt.

All landings or sidewalks must be salted as required during the day and prior to going off shift at night.

Trolley Coach Ice Cutters

Due to frost conditions there is need to keep trolley lines clear. TComm will take the following steps in this order to try and ensure the lines stay clear.

Level 1 Response

The T-Com Owl shift will:
Check current conditions and weather forecast from the Environment Canada Website.
Based on supervisor confirmation, order ice cutters, as per Ice Cutter Schedule. This request should be made at or before 24:00 hours.

VTC Garage will:
a) Equip assigned ice cutter coaches as per ice cutter schedule.
b) Put the Trolley fleet into zero mode
c) Ready 8 additional trolley buses with ice cutters and put them on a spare track in the event that T-Com needs to augment regular ice cutter service.
d) Ready the deicer truck

Level 2 Response

In addition to the level one response the T-Com Owl shift will:
Determine whether to run coaches after regular service hours to keep the trolley lines clear of ice or whether to use the ice cutter coaches.

If you decide on either option use the follow the procedure for filling the work:
1) First call out operators using the daily overtime list. Operators off of the Daily Overtime List will be requested to report to VTC to pick up either an ice cutter coach or a coach that will be used to keep trolley lines clear of ice.

If required, assign deicer truck, as per T-Com routing instructions to assist extended service.

Level 3 Response

In addition to the level one and two responses, the T-Com Owl shift will:
Assign the area car to VTC to dispatch the additional cutter service and to liaise with the service supervisor.
Have operators pick up the eight cutter busses that were readied at the level 1 notification to augment the morning ice cutter service.