Snow Removal

Priority Plan

The Street Maintenance Division has developed a Snow Removal Priority Plan. The Plan divides the City streets into three Priority categories, 1, 2, & 3. The priorities are selected on the basis of traffic volumes, steepness of hills, public transit routes, proximity to schools, access to businesses, and low-volume residential streets.

Our Goal

The first goal is to have Priorities 1 and 2, as well as school and public transit routes, plowed and deiced and/or sanded by 7:30 am, prior to the morning rush hour traffic. This goal is contingent upon the magnitude and duration of any snow event. The secondary goal is to have all remaining priority streets plowed within three working days. Non-priority streets are typically low-volume residential streets which are only plowed if 4" of snow accumulation is present upon completion of priorities.

For more information, view Residential Snow Removal Responsibilities and Air Quality.

Winter Street Cleaning

City crews will also perform winter street cleaning when temperatures rise above 32°. The process divides the City's streets into four priority categories. Priority 1 streets will receive cleaning first at the beginning of each occurrence of a temperature change of about 32°. If Priority 1 streets have been swept within one week prior to the most recent occurrence, then sweeping can proceed according to the next priority. During the month of March, the City will clean all four winter cleaning priorities before proceeding to clean all non-priority routes.