REPORT: No. PW2911

TOWN OF WHITBY
REPORT
RECOMMENDATION REPORT
REPORT TO: Operations Committee
REPORT NO: PW 29-11
DATE OF MEETING: June 20, 2011
FILE NO(S):
PREPARED BY: Public Works
LOCATION: All Wards
REPORT TITLE/SUBJECT:
1.0
Replacement of 3 Tracked Sidewalk Machines With
3 Four Wheel Drive Utility Tractors and Attachments
RECOMMENDATION:
That Public Works Department be authorized to tender for three (3) four wheel drive
multi-purpose utility tractors with attachments instead of the three (3) tracked
machines identified in the 2011 Capital Budget.
2.0
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Department’s sidewalk maintenance equipment is comprised of eleven (11)
Bombardier tracked machines (Attachment 1) and three (3) Trackless rubber tire
multi-purpose tractors (Attachment 2). All of these machines are used to plow, sand /
salt sidewalks and for the seniors windrow clearing program. The multi-purpose
machines are also used in the summer to perform other duties including sweeping and
for the sidewalk inspection and trip ledge removal program.
Having reviewed the current sidewalk maintenance equipment configuration, staff are
recommending a greater balance of both multi-purpose and single purpose equipment.
This shift would increase flexibility for some of the equipment to be available for year
round use and reduce the capital replacement and operating budget costs.
There is an opportunity to shift the equipment configuration starting this year as there
are three (3) single purpose tracked machines identified for replacement in the 2011
Capital Budget. It is recommended that the three (3) multi-purpose four wheel drive
utility tractors with attachments (Attachment 3) be purchased instead of the three (3)
tracked machines identified in the 2011 Capital Budget. The estimated savings in
capital replacement is over $200k.
Report to: Operations Committee
Report No.: PW 29-11
3.0
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ORIGIN:
Public Works report PW 29-11 originates from within the Department.
4.0
BACKGROUND:
The Department’s sidewalk maintenance equipment is comprised of eleven (11)
Bombardier tracked machines and three (3) Trackless rubber tire multi-purpose
tractors. All of this equipment is used to plow, sand / salt sidewalks and for the seniors
windrow clearing program. The Trackless rubber tire multi-purpose machines are also
used in the summer to perform other duties including sweeping and for the sidewalk
inspection and trip ledge removal program.
Tracked Sidewalk Machines – Refer to Attachment 1
Tracked sidewalk machines are designed and built solely to work in snow conditions.
While the rubber track provides excellent traction and pushing power in heavy wet
snow, it is not designed to operate in dry conditions. The seniors windrow program
and spot salting / sanding of sidewalks requires the machines to be driven from
location to location on dry pavement. The average life cycle of the tracks is four
seasons however operating the machines in dry conditions compromises this time
frame. Replacement of the two tracks results in approximately a $7,000.00
expenditure compared to approximate $2,000.00 expenditure to replace four tires on a
tractor which have an average life cycle of eight years.
Trackless Rubber Tire – Refer to Attachment 2
The Town currently has three (3) trackless rubber tire multi-purpose tractors within the
sidewalk equipment. These units perform reasonably well when being utilized to plow,
sand / salt sidewalks. During heavy snow falls the plows are not as effective as the
bombardier and result in these units being switched over to the snow blower
attachment in order to more effectively remove snow. These units are also utilized for
sweeping hard surface areas and to grind trip ledges on Town owned sidewalks. The
capital cost to purchase the multi-purpose tractor, snow plow, sander / salt spreader
and concrete grinder is comparable to the capital cost of a tracked sidewalk unit with a
plow, however the operating and maintenance costs are less than that of a tracked
machine. These machines are designed to work in snow as well as dry conditions.
Report to: Operations Committee
Report No.: PW 29-11
5.0
Page 3 of 8
DISCUSSION/OPTIONS:
Four Wheel Drive Multi-Purpose Utility Tractor – See Attachment 3
Identified within the 2011 Capital Budget is the life cycle replacement of three (3)
tracked sidewalk plows and sanders (Attachment 1). Staff have researched alternate
equipment, consulted with other municipalities on the other types of equipment
available and in use, considered the current and future requirements of the sidewalk
maintenance programs and recommend the three (3) tracked sidewalk plows, be
replaced with three (3) rubber tire, four wheel drive multi-purpose utility tractors
(Attachment 3) complete with plows, sand / salt spreaders, quick connect loader
bucket and power broom. The height and width of the three aforementioned machines
are similar thus allowing utilization of all the machines in all work areas.
The change in the type of equipment purchased would result in a reconfiguration of the
sidewalk maintenance equipment creating a more diversified fleet of tracked
machines, multi purpose tractors and utility tractors. Further purchase of multi
purpose utility tractors would be reviewed as the existing machines are life cycled and
come up for replacement. This change would result in savings within the Capital
Budget at the time of purchase. The cost per operating hour of a utility tractor is less
than that of a tracked machine.
The capital costs for the rubber tire, four wheel drive utility tractor complete with plows,
sand / salt spreader, quick connect loader bucket and power broom would be
considerably less than the budgeted cost of a tracked machine or multi purpose
tractor. Additional attachments such as a quick connect loader bucket and power
broom will increase utilization of these units. Utility tractors similar to multi purpose
tractors can be utilized for tasks other than plowing snow such as sweeping hard
surfaces, intersections, trails and sports field maintenance. These machines would
not replace other equipment however as they would be used for supplemental work
within the Operations Roads and Parks Sections Similar units are being successfully
utilized for similar job functions by other municipalities and private contractors.
6.0
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS/PLAN:
N/A
Report to: Operations Committee
Report No.: PW 29-11
7.0
Page 4 of 8
CONSIDERATIONS:
A.
PUBLIC
N/A
B.
FINANCIAL
Approved in the 2011 Capital Budget are funds in the amount of $480,000 for the
replacement of three (3) existing tracked side walk plows. Proceeding with the
tendered purchase of three (3) four wheel drive multi-purpose utility tractors with
plow and sand / salt spreaders, quick connect loader bucket and power broom
would result in an estimated total project cost of $250,000.00.
C.
IMPACT ON & INPUT FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS/SOURCES
Public Works and Corporate Services will work jointly throughout the tendering
process.
D.
CORPORATE AND/OR DEPARTMENT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Work to ensure that municipal government processes are streamlined, efficient
and cost effective.
8.0
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The Public Works Department will continue to explore various equipment within the
Operational Services Fleet Division in order to increase utilization and reduce
maintenance and operating costs.
Report to: Operations Committee
Report No.: PW 29-11
9.0
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment No 1 - Bombardier Tracked Sidewalk Machine
Attachment No 2 - Trackless Rubber Tire Multi Purpose Tractor
Attachment No 3 - Four Wheel Drive Multi-Purpose Utility Tractor
For further information contact:
Leo Larkin, Superintendent of Fleet & Safety, Ext. 4337
___________________________________________
Suzanne Beale, Director of Public Works, Ext. 4311
___________________________________________
Robert Petrie, Chief Administrative Officer, Ext. 2211
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Report to: Operations Committee
Report No.: PW 29-11
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Bombardier Tracked Machine
ATTACHMENT No 1
Report to: Operations Committee
Report No.: PW 29-11
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Trackless Rubber Tire Multi Purpose Tractor
ATTACHMENT No 2
Report to: Operations Committee
Report No.: PW 29-11
Page 8 of 8
Four Wheel Drive Multi-Purpose Utility Tractor
ATTACHMENT No 3