Sunday, November 16, 2014

Fwd: Columbus Snow Warriors Ready to Go

Hello, NECKO - Here's the latest on the City of Columbus Snow Plan.  The website is particularly helpful.

---------- Forwarded message (edited for length) ----------
Date: Sun, Nov 16, 2014 at 4:50 PM
Subject: Columbus Snow Warriors Ready to Go

Columbus Snow Warriors have applied brine to streets in preparation for the snow anticipated early Monday.  Overnight crews will begin treating Priority 1 streets (US 33, SR 104, SR 315 and arterial streets ) as soon as the snow begins to ensure a safe morning commute.  As the snow continues, residents can visit warriorwatch.columbus.gov to learn:

·         What streets have been treated citywide in the last 72 hours

·         The most recent time a street was treated in the last 72 hours

·         Whether their street is a Priority 1, Priority 2 or Priority 3

 

 

City of Columbus Snow Warriors Fact Sheet:  Winter of 2014-15

Quick Facts About The City of Columbus' Snow Plan

                                                                              

The Department of Public Service will also provide updates through the department's Facebook site at www.facebook.com/ColumbusPublicService and Twitter account at http://twitter.com/ColumbusDPS

 

Every winter storm is different, so the strategy for responding to a specific storm varies from storm to storm.  However, each street has a priority:

·         Priority 1 roadways include State Routes 33, 104 and 315 and arterial streets

·         Priority 2 roadways include collector streets

·         Priority 3 roadways include residential streets

 

Columbus' Snow Warriors are responsible for 6,387 lane miles of roadway, more than Cleveland and Cincinnati combined.  Columbus' 6,387 lane miles include:

·         372 lane miles on the parts of State Routes 33, 104 and 315 for which the City of Columbus is responsible

·         3,308 lane miles of arterial streets.  Examples include High Street, Livingston Avenue, Morse Road, Parsons Avenue, Sawmill Road, Sullivant Avenue and Whittier Street.

·         1,053 lane miles of collector streets.  Examples include Argyle Drive, Blenheim Road, Binns Boulevard, Buttles Avenue, Dunedin Road, Eastmoor Boulevard, Skywae Drive, Summit Row Boulevard and East Woodrow Avenue.

·         1,654 lane miles of residential streets.  Examples include Duxberry Avenue, Garden Road, Franklin Avenue, Kossuth Street, Laramie Drive, Parkside Road, Scottsdale, Avenue, Welch Avenue and Wetmore Road

 

Columbus has added trucks to its snow plow fleet since last winter, increasing its fleet of heavy duty snow plow trucks to 79.  More trucks have been ordered and will be delivered in the coming months that will bring the total number of heavy duty snow plow trucks to 99 by winter's end.  An additional 46 trucks are available to assist in extreme winter weather conditions.

 

The City of Columbus has a core of 114 Equipment Operators who serve as our Snow Warriors.  In addition, other City employees in the Departments of Public Service, Public Utilities and Recreation and Parks are cross-trained to drive snow plow trucks as needed during heavy snowstorms, bringing the total to more than 300 City employees who can be called on to help during extreme winter weather conditions.

 

Safety Tips

·         Shovel your sidewalk:  Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice off sidewalks that abut their properties or are on their properties. Property owners should never shovel snow into the street or onto a sidewalk. Salt, sand or cat litter should be applied to icy steps and paths.

·         Drive with extra care and leave additional distance between you and the vehicle in front of you

·         Maintain a distance of no less than 100 feet behind a snow plow truck

·         Avoid passing snow plow trucks because the drivers cannot always see a smaller car about to pass

·         When possible, park vehicles in driveways or parking lots and off streets to give plow trucks room to plow

·         Check on senior citizens, shut-ins and other neighbors with mobility impairments

·         When the snow begins to melt, clear snow from in front of catch basins by shoveling the snow into storm sewers.  The heat of the storm sewer will melt the snow and allow other melting snow and ice to flow freely into storms sewers.