If a SNOW EMERGENCY is declared,
ANY AND ALL VEHICLES MUST BE REMOVED FROM CITY STREETS. Failing to do so will result in parking citations and/or towing fees.
The Department of Public Service is responsbile for plowing 230 lane miles of road during a snow event. Most streets require 3-4 passes until they're in satisfactory condition. Please keep that in mind and follow the below tips to help expidite our snow removal efforts.
Quickly removing your street parked vehicles allows for our DPS crew to clean significantly more snow during their first pass, reducing the time to clear the entire city. Additionally, removing your vehicle off street diminished the possibility of your car being "snowed in".
Please subscribe to Nixle to receive up to the minute updates and snow emergency declarations. When a snow emergency is declared, that information will also be posted to the City's Official Facebook Page, Twitter, City's signage, as well as local media outlets.
Motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists must remember that winter conditions mean slower going. You need to allow additional time to travel to your destination and, motorists should allow more distance to stop.
How does the City decide what streets get plowed first?
The Department of Public Service (DPS) prioritizes clearing of main routes so emergency vehicles can get to schools, hospitals, and homes quickly. State highways and major streets are plowed before our crews begin to clear residential streets. Please understand that every street cannot be cleared at the same time and our staff is working dilignetly to prioritize routes.
My street didn't get plowed. Why?
During a winter storm, primary and main routes are plowed first to ensure safe passage of emergency vehicles and traffic. As those routes are more densely traveled and frequently used by emergency personnel, we prioritize them. We simply can't plow every road at once.
As a result, secondary and neighborhood roads are plowed typically after snowfall has ended and primary routes are in passable condition. The severity of the storm, cooperation by residents to move their parked vehicles off the road, and timing all play a factor in how quickly we can attend to neighborhood streets. Much like garbage pickup, our snow plows adhere to a route and it's not unusual for neighborhoods to be plowed a day after the storm.
The City snow plow pushed snow into my driveway, who is responsible for clearing the snow?
Our plows are angled to the right for plowing from the center line of the street to the curb. During the course of normal snow plowing, it is unavoidable that some amount of snow will be deposited into your driveway. Our priority is clearing of the snow for safe travel. Snow placed onto driveways or sidewalks by the City snow plows is the responsibility of property owners to remove.
Why did the City snow plow push snow onto the sidewalk I just cleared?
Areas of the City may have narrow public right-of-ways which can result in the unintentional pushing of snow onto a sidewalk. We apologize for this inconvience, but please recognize it's an unavoidable consequence of the snow removal process.
May we suggest, if your schedule permits, that you wait to clear your sidewalk and driveway after the plows have passed through your street to avoid having to shovel the snow left on your sidewalk and driveway by the plows.
When does the City plow neighborhood roads?
Primary roads are maintained in a passable condition throughout the entire storm. Neighborhood roads are typically plowed when snow exceeds 3 inches. Like garbage collection, neighborhood plowing operates on a fixed schedule throughout the winter.
Why isn't my street plowed down to bare pavement?
Unlike primary and secondary roads, residential roads are NOT plowed or salted to achieve bare pavement. Periodic snow pack conditions can be expected.
Why don't all roads in Lincoln Park receive bare pavement level of service?
In order to achieve bare pavement, salt must be applied at the onset of snow. This allows for a layer of salt brine between the road and accumulating snow to prevent bonding. Significant increases in equipment, salt, and manpower would be necessary to achieve this level of service. Additionally, increased costs and negative environmental impact would also be noticed.
What can I do to help?
- Clear your sidewalk within 24hrs
- Work with your neighbors to keep sidewalks clear
- Move your cars off the street during declared snow emergencies to expedite our plowing efforts. You may be fined for non-compliance.
- Keep your waste collection areas free of snow and ice
- Try to keep any catch basins adjacent to your property clear of ice/snow to allow for quicker drainage during snow melt.
