When it snows...

Snow Plowing Basics as Winter Approaches

Montgomery Co's Dept. of Public Works 

Plowing generally begins when snow becomes 3 or more inches deep and the temperature indicates that there will be no melting. However, when the snow depth is 3 inches or less and the afternoon sun is melting it, the County lets the sun do the work, saving you tax dollars. Even after plowing, snow that has been hard packed by traffic often remains on the street, where the County plows are unable to remove it completely. In this situation, a mixture of sand and salt is spread to provide adequate traction.

After the snow stops falling and after the major County roads and primary neighborhood streets are cleared, crews concentrate on clearing snow from all neighborhood streets and sanding as promptly as possible. Please see our Snow Operations Fact Sheet for a quick summary on our snow removal operations.

• It takes about 16 hours following the end of a 3" snowfall to plow and/or treat every County road once.
   
• After a 10" snowfall, you can expect major and primary County roads to be cleared within 24 to 36 hours. At that time, one pass should have been made through neighborhood streets.
   
• After a 15" snowfall, our crews will complete this work in about 35 to 40 hours.
   
• After a 24" snowfall, our crews will complete the work in about 48 to 60 hours.
   
• However, the type of snow (wet or powdery) and the temperature and wind conditions following the storm can alter this schedule.

Please be patient! Streets are plowed according to their priority and reviewed at the end of each season. Snow fighters work around the clock until all 2,400 miles of County maintained streets are passable. We will use a force of 200 employees, 175 pieces of snow removal equipment, and we have available 35,500 tons of salt and sand to get the job done.

The Department of Public Works & Transportation's Action Plan

1. Patrol at the start of the storm
2. Spot salt bridges and elevated roadways
3. Full‑scale salt of all major County roads (arterial roads connecting subdivisions or business districts) and primary neighborhood streets (main collector streets through subdivisions)
4. Plow all major County roads
5. Plow all primary neighborhood streets and all other residential streets
6. Spot sand hills and intersections on residential streets

This plan's goal is to ensure that major and primary neighborhood routes are cleared to bare pavement as soon as possible. Secondary neighborhood streets cannot receive the same level of treatment, but will always be plowed and also spot sanded where necessary. Residents will be within 3 or 4 blocks of a fully treated roadway during the course of a storm, and will have complete vehicular access as soon as possible when the storm is over.

Plowing and How You Can Help

Clearing driveways and entrances is the responsibility of the property owner. Commercial and multi‑family property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks at their properties.

A law recently enacted by the County Council requires all residential and commercial property owners to clear their public sidewalks within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm. The County is currently focused on educating residents about their responsibilities under the law. All residents are strongly encouraged to be good neighbors by clearing the sidewalks in front of their homes, as well as assisting those who may not be physically able to do so.

For information about changes to County‑provided recycling and trash collection, call 240/777‑6410, or visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/solidwaste. Sign up for e-mail notification about collection changes at www.montgomerycountymd.gov//holiday.htm.

• If you have a driveway, use it. The more cars off the street, the better job we can do and the less likely it is that your car will be plowed in, splashed by salt spray or be the victim of a collision.
• If you do not have a driveway, park as close to the curb as possible on ONE SIDE OF THE STREET. Park your car on the EVEN NUMBERED side of the street if possible. Move to the other side of the street after the plow has cleared it.
• To help avoid the frustration that occurs when a snowplow covers your driveway with snow after you have shoveled, stand facing the street and shovel snow to the right into the yard instead of into the street.

All numbered (State-maintained) roads in the county are cleared by the Maryland State Highway Administration.

Other departments, outside agencies and governmental jurisdictions have responsibility for plowing. They include: Division of Transit Services (which will clear as many of its highest ridership 5,000 shelters and bus stops as it can), the Montgomery County Board of Education, the Maryland‑National Park & Planning Commission, Metro, municipalities and homeowner's associations. Commercial parking lot owners plow their property and may not move snow into the street.

County Cable Montgomery, Channels 55/5 or Channel 6, continuously updates roadway conditions within the County.

For information about snow removal operations during a snowstorm, OR ABOUT CLEARING SIDEWALKS OF SNOW, call the Division Operations - Highway Maintenance Section at 240/777­7623, or check our web site.

Continue reading for details about how to access more snow related information.

Helpful Hints

• Just relax and leave your car at home! Ride the subway or catch a bus. Every car left at home reduces the number of stranded vehicles that slow down snow control operations.
• If you must drive, equip your vehicle with snow tires or chains. Why risk getting stuck, damaging your car, blocking traffic and snow removal equipment or incurring towing and impoundment costs and inconvenience?
• A road that has been sanded is safer than one not sanded. Please do not pull out in front of trucks to get up a hill faster!

Public Works crews have thousands of miles of pavement to patrol, so they appreciate helpful calls from citizens giving the exact location of the pothole, with a specific address or intersection. Crews will repair potholes on County maintained roads promptly. Just call 240/777-ROAD (7623) or use this online form.

Ride On - www.rideonbus.com

240/777-RIDE (7433)

Route changes are updated regularly and announced on the Transit Information phone line and on County Cable Channels 55/5 or 6. Or check Ride On's web site for detour information.

301/770-POOL (7665)

You can obtain information on alternative transportation, including carpool, vanpool, transit options, transit passes and tokens.

202/637-7000

For general information about Metro schedules and routes, and their status during storms, call between 6:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8:00 A.M. to 10:30 P.M. on weekends, or visit their web site.

301/279-3673

You may check to see if schools are closed or school schedules are changed because of bad weather. However, the news is relayed over local radio and television stations immediately after the decision is made. You can also go directly to the MCPS Emergency Information page.

240/777-2706

Community activities scheduled in schools or other County facilities are automatically canceled when public schools close early or for the entire day because of snow. Weekend or holiday cancellations are announced on local television and radio stations as soon as the decision is made. You can also get information on snow closings by calling, or by checking their website.

240/777-6500

If you wonder if the library is open, call. After the message announcing openings/closings in Montgomery County; press I for changes in scheduled programs and activities and then press 1 again for an lip‑to‑date status, including closing times of branches, conditions of parking lots and how library fines will he handled. You may also check Quick Links at the County web site.

If classes are suspended because of snow, you will hear announcements on local radio and television stations. Please don't call the College to ask about school closings. If you don't hear anything on the radio or TV, assume the College is open.

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