Snow and Ice Control Operations for Storm Events
The start of snow and/or ice control operations for any storm is dependent upon immediate and anticipated conditions. Because of many weather variables encountered, maintenance requirements differ for each snow and ice event. General winter maintenance requirements have been established for different snow and ice events as follows:
Freezing rain, sleet, black ice, and freeze/thaw
These types of events are based on changing weather conditions. The Superintendent or approved designee will determine the required ice control response based on current and forecasted conditions. The response may vary from one unit to full fleet applying ice control material.
Snowfall of less than 2”
General snowplowing may not be necessary and normal ice control procedures may be adequate to produce safe winter driving conditions. The Supervisor may deem plowing necessary if a series of less than 2” snowfalls has caused a buildup of snow on City streets.
Snowfall of 2” to 6”
Typically, snow removal begins as soon as practical after snowfall has ended. Depending on the timing of the snowfall event, every effort is made to provide motorists with safe winter driving conditions prior to critical time periods. The most critical time periods are weekday morning and evening rush hours. The City will attempt to remove ice and snow from the City maintained collector and priority streets prior to rush hour periods. Normally, collector and priority streets are plowed first. Once collector and priority areas are plowed and opened, the remaining streets in the residential, commercial, and industrial areas will be plowed and ice control applied.
Snowfall greater than 6”
Each plow route has a system of collector, priority, and secondary streets that link neighborhoods, major arterials, and facilities such as schools, health care facilities, etc. During extraordinary snow/ice events operations may be performed on a limited scale and focused on arterial and collector transportation routes and emergency service delivery locations to ensure public safety. Once snowfall has ended, priority streets within each route will be cleared before snow removal begins on secondary streets. Ice control measures will follow once streets are plowed full width.