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Government

SNOW AND ICE CONTROL PROGRAM

January 2010

INTRODUCTION

The control of accumulations of snow and ice on the public ways of the City of Fitchburg is the responsibility of the Department of Public Works. Snow and ice control is emergency work and shall be accomplished as efficiently and quickly as possible with the resources available to City government. Many factors interact to make the effects of each snow or ice event unique. Consequently, the snow and ice control plan for the City must be flexible enough to cope with and respond to varying conditions during and after each winter storm.

The following is a general description of how the Department of Public Works plows snow from City streets. Details are contained in this manual.

Step 1 - When a snow storm begins, the DPW responds by salting the main roads. Salting these roadways serves two purposes: to keep traffic moving, and to prevent the snow from bonding to the pavement.

Step 2 - Snow plowing begins when snow accumulates two (2) inches, or forecasts indicate that it will. Over 70 city and private plows can be called out and assigned to plow pre-determined routes. The City’s policy is to plow the full width of the street, curb to curb, during each storm.

Step 3 - Once snowfall has stopped and plowing is winding down, salt trucks begin post-storm salting.

Because of the high cost associated with removal of plowed snow, large snow

piles will be removed only when necessary from streets and municipal parking lots in the downtown area. Snow accumulations may also be removed from heavily traveled streets as time and budget constraints permit. Any removal operations performed on streets are for the purpose of facilitating the safe and proper flow of vehicular traffic only.

SNOW AND ICE CONTROL OPERATIONS

During a winter storm, City plow/spreader equipment will be dispatched when necessary to plow and treat Fitchburg’s streets. Trucks shall be assigned to one of eighteen (18) zones or routes into which the City is partitioned. If snowfall

is expected to be in excess of six (6) inches, the DPW will call private contractors to supplement its own crews. These plows will first clear the primary streets (“main lines”). After those streets are open for vehicular traffic, the plows will then clear all remaining streets (“side streets”) listed on the eighteen (18) general plow maps. The goal is that all improved streets are to be cleared for vehicular travel within twenty-four (24) hours of the end of a winter storm.

Within snow zones and routes, primary streets will be plowed and treated continuously until they are open for vehicular traffic. Then the secondary streets will be plowed and treated. Finally, all other streets in each zone or route will be opened for vehicular travel.

CALL LISTS and PREPARATION

A call list shall be completed and distributed by November 1st each year. The list will state: 

  1. Names and phone numbers of City snow and ice control personnel;
  2. Routes or zones the personnel are assigned to;
  3. Names and phone numbers of salt supplier and private sector plow contractors. 

The success of the overall operation is based on the availability of appropriate staff, preceding and during snow removal activities. Between the months of November and April, Fitchburg is subject to rapidly changing weather patterns. Because severe winter storms may occur during these months, management may alter the work schedules of employees as conditions dictate. Management will make every attempt to notify employees of the possibility of anticipated storms. With advance warning, it is the employee’s responsibility to make arrangements to be available as needed for snow removal. 

SNOW WARNING AND ALERTING PROCEDURE 

The DPW Superintendent of Streets shall monitor National Weather Service and commercial weather forecasting services during the winter storm season. When snow or ice conditions develop between 3 p.m. and 7 a.m., the Police Department shall alert the Superintendent of Streets. 

TRUCK PLOW/SPREADER OPERATIONS 

As soon as conditions warrant at the inception of a winter storm, the DPW plow/spreader truck operators are dispatched onto their zones/routes by the Superintendent of Streets. 

The Superintendent of Streets determines what types of materials will be spread on Fitchburg's streets. His decision is based on variables such as air temperature, pavement temperature, type of precipitation, wind, and forecasted post-storm air temperatures. Only salt is used on Main Street to eliminate the nuisance of blowing sand and dust. 

Trucks will plow ahead of materials they spread when the operators determine that the conditions are warrant, or once snow accumulations on streets exceed one (1) inch in average depth. 

PUBLIC SAND PILE 

For the convenience of the public, the DPW provides a sand pile on Broad Street, west of the Rollstone Street Bridge. Fitchburg residents are welcome to take reasonable quantities of sand for their use. Residents are responsible for providing their own vehicle and equipment. 

SNOW PLOW OPERATIONS 

If snowfall accumulations are in excess of six (6) inches on street surfaces, motor

graders and plow-equipped endloaders are usually dispatched to assist with plowing operations. These plows will first clear the primary streets (i.e., “main lines”). After those streets are open for vehicular traffic, the plows will then be dispatched to clear the streets shown on the general plow route maps. In the event of a severe winter storm, City plows and personnel may be supplemented with equipment and operators hired from the private sector. 

For efficiency, crews will, when feasible, use the following standard in plowing snow in cul-de-sacs:

  1. One full pass will be made around the perimeter of the cul-de-sac with a snowplow, pushing the snow to the center of the cul-de-sac, and thus, creating a pile.
  2. As time allows, the snow will be plowed out of the center of the cul-de-sac and dispersed to the sides of the street. Some cul-de-sacs either have a very short throat or may develop unusually heavy and uneven drifts; therefore, it may not always be possible for crews to employ this procedure. 

Many of Fitchburg’s dead end streets are located on steep hills, making snow plowing and salting even more difficult. Experience has shown that the best way to handle these streets are to back up the street while applying sand and salt for traction, followed by plowing down the street. 


SNOW EMERGENCIES- VEHICLE PARKING AND TOWING 

In order to facilitate snow plowing and removal operations, Ordinance No. 288-06 of the City Code provides for declaration of a snow emergency during which no parking of vehicles is allowed on City streets: 

Ord. No. 288-06

Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former § 169-35, Seasonal all-night parking restricted, as amended. 

A. Whenever the Mayor, or his designee, declares a snow emergency exists in the City in regard to snow plowing or snow removal by giving at least six hours' notice, it shall be unlawful for the owner, operator or person in charge of any vehicle (other than one acting in an emergency) to park such vehicle or permit or suffer the same to be parked on any public street in this City for the duration of the emergency. A snow emergency so declared shall continue for a forty-eight-hour period which may be extended by the Mayor or his designee as circumstances require. During said snow emergency, the Commissioner of Public Works shall conduct snow plowing, removal, and sand and salt operations. 

B. The Mayor or his designee may remove the restrictions imposed in any snow emergency for areas of the City as they become cleared. 

C. The Commissioner of Public Works shall notify the Fitchburg Police Department, local TV, radio stations, newspapers and others as said Commissioner deems appropriate of any snow emergency declared under this section. 

D. Any violation of this section will result in a fine of $25 and, upon the authority of a police officer, the Commissioner of Public Works or the Superintendent of Street, any vehicle parked in violation of a snow emergency declared under this section may be towed and the owner of such vehicle shall be liable for any charges incurred for the removal and storage of such vehicle. 

E. The provision of this section shall not apply to handicapped parking areas located in residential zones. 

F. Metered parking may be used from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during a snow emergency unless specifically prohibited in the declaration of such snow emergency under this section.

A snow emergency shall be declared by the Mayor in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Works. The Commissioner shall notify the following via e-mail when a snow emergency is declared: 

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL OPERATIONS 

Because of the high costs associated with removal operations, snow piles will be removed only when necessary from streets and municipal parking lots in the downtown area. Snow accumulations may also be removed from heavily-traveled streets, as time and budget constraints permit. Any removal operations performed on streets are for the sole purpose of facilitating the safe and proper flow of vehicular traffic. 

Snow removal operations in the downtown area shall generally be performed at night in order to avoid heavy traffic and congested parking. Snow removal operations on other streets shall generally be performed during the day in order to accommodate the residents on those streets. Rotary snow blowers, front end loaders, motor graders, backhoe-loaders, and dump trucks shall be used for such operations. Private equipment and operators may be hired to assist, but only when deemed necessary. 

SIDEWALKS AND PARKING AREAS 

The DPW is responsible for the control and removal of ice and snow accumulations from sidewalks and steps at city property. The current budget provides that priority areas including sidewalks on Main Street and near schools will be cleared within seventy-two (72) hours of the end of a winter storm. 

Walks, Steps 

Ordinance Number 157-33 of The City Code requires private property owners or tenants to clear snow from public sidewalks abutting their property as follows:


§ 157-33 Snow and ice on sidewalks

[Amended 4-5-1966]

No owner, tenant or agent of any real estate abutting on any sidewalk shall suffer or permit such sidewalk to remain covered wholly or partly with snow for more than four hours between sunrise and sunset; and should ice form on such sidewalk, the same shall be removed so far as practicable, and any remaining ice shall be made level and shall be covered with sand or other suitable substance to prevent slipping. This section shall be enforced by either the Chief of Police or the Commissioner of Public Works.

Parking Areas

Plowing of city-owned parking lots and garages is arranged by the City Treasurer’s Office, but costs are paid from the DPW Snow and Ice account. Plowing of sidewalks and parking areas at Fitchburg Public Schools is the responsibility of the School Department. Plowing of roads and parking areas at the Water Division and Wastewater Divisions is the responsibility of those divisions and costs are paid by the respective Enterprise Funds. 

CATCH BASINS 

Storm water catch basins located in key drainage areas will be opened within a reasonable time following snowfalls, if temperatures over 32 degrees Fahrenheit are expected soon thereafter. Timing will depend to a great extent upon short-range weather forecasts. Key catch basins are located at bridges, John Fitch Highway and Ashburnham Street near Moran Playground. 

ICE BUILD-UP 

Certain roads in the City are subject to ice build-up, usually due to groundwater flowing from ledge outcrops or retaining walls. These areas require constant attention during cold weather, regardless of snowfall. Experience has shown that it is necessary to scrape ice off the pavement with a grader and to keep the area treated with salt. Problem areas include the following:

SALT, SAND AND CHEMICAL SUPPLIES 

 The DPW purchases salt from: 

Eastern Salt Company, Inc. (office)
134 Middle Street, Suite 210
Lowell, MA 01852

Eastern Salt Company, Inc. (yard)
37 Marginal Street
Chelsea, MA 02150

Salt is stored in the salt shed at the DPW Yard at 301 Broad Street. DPW requests that deliveries be made between 7:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. to reduce the need for overtime except in case of emergency. Depending on road conditions, DPW purchases about 7,000 cubic yards of salt per year. 

The DPW mines and screens sand at the “Airport Pit” on Crawford Street in Fitchburg. There is about 300,000 cubic yards of material remaining at the pit, but some of it might not be suitable due to clay content. The sand is hauled to the DPW Yard for storage. Depending on road conditions, DPW processes about 35,000 cubic yards of salt per year. 

Sand and salt are typically mixed at a ratio of 3 loads of sand to 1 load of salt unless otherwise directed by the Superintendent of Streets. 

DPW sprays calcium chloride on the streets when directed by the Superintendent to help minimize the amount of snow that adheres to the pavement. Currently, DPW uses about 3,000 gallons per year. The supplier of calcium chloride is: 

All States Materials Group
P.O. Box 91
Sunderland, MA 01375
ASMG.com 

DEPARTURE FROM POLICY 

The City of Fitchburg recognizes that winter conditions vary from year to year and from storm to storm. Consequently, when conditions warrant, the Commissioner of Public Works may order a departure from the snow and ice control and removal policies as stated in this manual in order to adjust to existing conditions.

 

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