Stage 1 snow event complete

Residential hill routes finished this morning

Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509.625.6740

Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 12:04 p.m.

City plowing on residential hill routes finished today ending the Stage 1 snow event declared Sunday afternoon.

City crews began working Friday to prepare streets ahead of the Sunday storm. As the snowfall intensity increased, additional crews were called in to prepare the city for the Monday morning commute. The city has more than 2,100 lane miles, including 760 arterial lane miles.

Snow emergency routes, major arterials, hills and transit routes were the initial focus. Resources were added to the residential hill routes as part of the Stage 1 snow event. The snow “boot” attached to a grader was also tested as part of the pilot program.

A Stage One Snow Event is declared when:

Two inches of snow are on the ground and four inches or more are anticipated during the current snow event. This declaration triggers a number of actions.

The City will:

  • Notify citizens of the snow event.
  • Plow arterials and fixed STA bus routes on a 20-hour schedule until complete.
  • Supplement Street crews with crews from other City departments, as needed.
  • Plow Neighborhood Business Districts to the curb, as part of the arterial routes.
  • Plow around hospitals and in medical district, as needed.
  • Plow residential hills (routes 20 and above).
  • Clear snow in Central Business District using deicer or by plowing to the center of the street.
  • Clear sidewalks around priority City-owned property within 24 hours.

Citizens are asked to: 

  • Move parked cars off all arterials and fixed STA bus routes within 6 hours.
  • Move parked cars in residential hill routes (routes 20 and above) to the even side of the street (for the current season)
  • Clear sidewalks of snow within 24 hours.

Further snow information: