Denver Snow Removal 2009 - 2010

When are the residential plows sent out?

Residential plows will be deployed between November 15 and March15 if more than 12 inches of snow is forecast accompanied by prolonged freezing temperatures.

What do the residential plows look like?

The residential plows are 4x4 pick up trucks mounted with snow plows.

Where do we get the residential plows?

The trucks come from Public Works, Parks & Recreation and one private contractor. Adding the contractor allows us to add more resources to each sector.

How many plows go out?

123 pieces of equipment will be deployed each shift; “equipment” refers to residential plows and other pieces of heavy equipment used to address side streets.

How do we deploy them? (Where do they go and in what order?)

• To manage the program, we divide up the City into 21 sectors, each containing approximately 60-70 lane miles.
• There are typically six plows assigned to each sector. There are 21 sectors in the City, not including North Stapleton which has not yet been developed.

How do the residential plows work? What can I expect to see when a plow comes down my street?

• The residential plows will take one pass down the middle of each residential street to skim off accumulated snow in an effort to prevent the packing down of thick snow and ice, as well as the subsequent deep ruts seen in the blizzard of ’06-‘07.
• This process basically removes a layer of the accumulation, keeping the street manageable.
• Because the residential plows are deployed when 12 inches or more of snow is on the ground and temperatures are continually freezing, it is not realistic to expect the residential plows to expose bare pavement when they plow.
• The residential areas will not receive any anti icing or de icing material.

What if my car is parked in the street when the residential plow arrives?

It is helpful when residents can park their vehicles off-street but we realize that this isn’t always an option. Because of this on-street parking, the plows can not clear the street curb to curb.

Who is driving the residential plows?

• Current employees of Public Works and Parks and Recreation.
• Residential plow drivers undergo a special four-hour training to learn how to operate the plow, but they do not need a special driver’s license.
• The residential plow training is provided by Public Works.

When was the last time we deployed the residential plows?

The last official deployment of the residential plows was in 2007 on December 26. The concept of deploying light plows into the neighborhoods was brought into action during the blizzards of 2006-07.