City Hall
McGinn Rolls Out City's New Snow Plan
At a press conference in the freezing-cold parking lot of the Seattle Department of Transportation's maintenance facility this morning, Mayor Mike McGinn and SDOT officials outlined the city's new snow response plan, catchily titled, "Winter Weather: Let's Be Ready Together."
Most of the plan focuses on lowering expectations. In the event of a major snowfall (what McGinn kept referring to, unfortunately, as "a big dump"), the city will focus its efforts on major arterials first, leaving smaller streets uncleared. When weather forecasts predict a 50 percent likelihood of snow, the city will spray anti-ice solution on arterial routes that makes it harder for ice to take hold on pavement. Once snow and ice have accumulated, the city will use salt to melt the snow and ice. And in certain areas where drivers need more traction, the city will use sand.
"Our promise is that we are better prepared than in the past," McGinn said. "We still don't have the resources to clear every street."
In 2008, when a major snow all but shut down many parts of the city, SDOT did not use salt or anti-icing chemicals because of concerns about the impact they'd have on Puget Sound. Apparently, that's no longer a concern: According to SDOT, Seattle Public Utilities has "given the new approach an environmental green light" on the grounds that it doesn't snow very often here.
The snow plan doesn't include any additional snow plows; as in 2008, when a major snow all but shut down parts of the city, SDOT will have just 30 plows at its disposal.
The city's new snow plan dovetails closely with the emergency service route network King County announced last week. Metro general manager Kevin Desmond, who was on hand at this morning's press conference, said Metro's ongoing budget shortfall shouldn't impact service this winter. "We're ready to be out there and do our best,"
Most of the plan focuses on lowering expectations. In the event of a major snowfall (what McGinn kept referring to, unfortunately, as "a big dump"), the city will focus its efforts on major arterials first, leaving smaller streets uncleared. When weather forecasts predict a 50 percent likelihood of snow, the city will spray anti-ice solution on arterial routes that makes it harder for ice to take hold on pavement. Once snow and ice have accumulated, the city will use salt to melt the snow and ice. And in certain areas where drivers need more traction, the city will use sand.
"Our promise is that we are better prepared than in the past," McGinn said. "We still don't have the resources to clear every street."
In 2008, when a major snow all but shut down many parts of the city, SDOT did not use salt or anti-icing chemicals because of concerns about the impact they'd have on Puget Sound. Apparently, that's no longer a concern: According to SDOT, Seattle Public Utilities has "given the new approach an environmental green light" on the grounds that it doesn't snow very often here.
The snow plan doesn't include any additional snow plows; as in 2008, when a major snow all but shut down parts of the city, SDOT will have just 30 plows at its disposal.
The city's new snow plan dovetails closely with the emergency service route network King County announced last week. Metro general manager Kevin Desmond, who was on hand at this morning's press conference, said Metro's ongoing budget shortfall shouldn't impact service this winter. "We're ready to be out there and do our best,"
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