Snow Removal -- These Guys are Good ! - by Mayor Bart Peterson

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Snow Removal -- These Guys are Good !
by Mayor Bart Peterson

this is a monthly message from the Mayor to Indianapolis' Neighborhoods

What does it take to keep a city’s streets clear of ice and snow in the winter months so its residents can travel safely? Dedication, cooperation and endless energy – all qualities that our city’s “snowfighters” personify as they battle severe weather conditions to keep Indianapolis moving.

Most of us begin to plan for winter as the temperatures drop and the leaves are tidily raked. We winterize our cars and dust off the snowboots, lamenting the oncoming change of season. But for the men and women of DPW, AFSCME Local 725, and city departments like Indy Parks, DMD and Public Safety, planning begins for the city’s snowfight as early as the previous spring.

Consider this: in late December 2002 and early January 2003, approximately 16 inches of snow fell in Indianapolis and Marion County, much of it on Christmas Eve and over the New Year’s holiday. Before the first flakes touched the ground on December 24, the snowfighters began to mobilize. They extensively monitored weather reports, pavement temperatures and other meteorological tools. And when called, more than 175 people – data entry specialists, office assistants, snow plow drivers, heavy equipment operators, dispatchers, supervisors and managers – answered the call to action.

As more than 7.5 inches of snow was dumped on Indianapolis and Marion County on December 24 and December 25, snowfighters followed DPW’s established snow plan. As in all snowfights, three critical locations - the Snow Operations Center, seven salt barns, and the three garages that house snow plows and trucks – served as home base for a dedicated army of workers who provided the labor, coordination and communication expertise to get the job done.

On December 24 city snow plow drivers immediately began clearing roadways throughout the 69 DPW-designated snow “areas” that cover the entire county. As each area consists of five to seven routes, workers had their hands full. Primary routes, consisting of thoroughfares like Washington Street, Keystone Avenue, Meridian Street, Lafayette Road and Madison Avenue, were cleared first, and at my request our private contractors attacked accumulating snow in residential neighborhoods. The end result? Nearly 4,900 lane miles were cleared of snow during the entire snowfight, allowing us to safely reach our destinations.

While the heavy snowfall on December 24 tested our mettle, our city’s team of snowfighters responded with the same careful attention that they dedicate to all other winter weather conditions. It’s this dedication, I think, that proves the snowfighters in this city have what it takes to effectively keep our city moving when snow threatens to stop us.