Snow & Ice Removal Plan Implemented in Plum

Plum Borough residents might see a change in the way maintenance crews clear roads during and after snowfall events.

On Monday,  Council adopted a Snow and Ice Control Plan, which sets operation guidelines for the borough maintenance crews during winter weather.

William Berchick, director of the borough public works department, said last week he has been looking to implement a plan for several years.

Berchick said several factors, including temperature, precipitation type and length of a storm impact how public works crews prepare for a storm.

Under the new plan, the goal is have priority streets in the borough plowed and treated—achieving bare pavement—within 12 hours from the time the snow stops falling. After finishing the priority streets, the goal is to plow neighborhood streets within 18 hours of priority street completion.

Borough Manager Mike Thomas said residents shouldn't be alarmed.

"This doesn't mean won't do anything for 12 or 18 hours," he said. "It just means that is the goal."

On neighborhood roads, the goal is to make the streets passable and provide good traction at stop signs, hills and curves. According to the plan, it is not practical to remove all snow and/or ice to bare pavement on neighborhood streets.

With 29 square-miles and 319 lane miles of street in Plum, Berchick said the borough doesn't have enough resources to keep streets clear all the time. Usage of salt, manpower and overtime all cost the borough.

"The differences will be in the neighborhood streets," he said. "Basically, we kept the roads bare or near bare all the time. We can't do that anymore."

Thomas agreed. He said having every truck and public works employee salting the roads at all times is not an effective way to treat the roads.

Priority streets are classified as follows:

• Borough-maintained Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Allegheny County roads, such as Route 286; Center, Coxcomb Hill, Drennan, Greensburg, Hulton, Leechburg, Logans Ferry, Milltown, New Texas, Old Frankstown, Old Leechburg, Pierson Run, Renton, Saltsburg, Sardis, Spring Miller, Unity Center and Webster roads; and Lindsay Lane.
• Higher traffic counts and traveled speeds.
• Serve as an access point to emergency services facilities (hospitals, fire stations, police headquarters, ambulance bases, etc.).
• Serve as outlets for major subdivisions.
• Have steep grades.

Other priority roads include Abers Creek, O'Block, Ross Hollow, Elicker, Repp, Shearer, Kerr, Frontenac, Blue Ridge, Davidson, Oak, Francis, Sagamore Hill, Center New Texas, Beech, Elm, Maple and Browntown roads; Boyce Park, Wimbledon, Balkan, Holiday Park, Sandune, Cayuga, Chapparal, Havana, Hialeah, Mardi Gras, Presque Isle, Surfside, Malabar, Tahoe, Rustic Ridge, Emerald, Lynn Ann, Highlands/Stirling, Darlan Hill, Entrance, Memorial, Greendale and Dinwiddie drives; Millers Lane; Ramparts Boulevard; O'Block Avenue; and Route 380 and Route 909.

Neighborhood streets are all other roads that don't meet the criteria to be a priority street.

Guidelines

• During snow or ice events, public works will pre-treat priority streets with salt and/or anti-skid. 
• During ice events, crews will treat priority roads with salt/anti-skid based on pavement temperatures and ice accumulation, as well as carefully monitor conditions for retreatment. Hills, intersections and curves on neighborhood streets will be treated as needed.
• During events with less than two inches of snowfall, priority roads will be treated with salt/anti-skid to achieve clear pavement. Hills, intersections and curves on neighborhood streets will be treated as needed.
• If two of more inches of snow falls, priority streets will be plowed and salted. Crews will stay on priority streets until snow has stopped and
  streets are cleared. Neighborhood streets will be plowed so they are passable, and hills, intersections and curves will be treated as needed.

The borough is not responsible for treating alleys, however, if an emergency situation arises in which an alley is needed for access, it will be cleared based on a request from emergency personnel.

The presentation will be available on the Plum Borough website, as well as on Channel 19.

What do you think about the new Snow & Ice Control Plan? Tell us in the comments!