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Council OKs changes in new snowplow plan
Special to the News-Press
Last winter, the Town of Castle Rock deployed snowplows into neighborhoods for every snow event — even dustings — as part of a new snow-removal policy created to better serve residents.
When reviewing that policy’s effectiveness after its first season in action, town staff determined sending trucks out for even the slightest amount of snow was overkill and that staff and equipment resources could be used for better purposes, assistant public works director Maria Hagen recently told town council.
That’s why staff asked council, which gave its unanimous approval, to revise the snow removal policy to include a more reasonable service threshold that better uses resources but maintains public safety.
The policy now says plows will clear residential streets during the height of snow season — Nov. 15 through March 15 — when 4 or more inches of snow fall. Staff also can use best judgment to deploy plows into neighborhoods after less snow has fallen, Hagen said, but 4 inches is the threshold.
“Our intent is to keep the streets open during storm events and to clear them as soon as possible after the snow has ceased falling,” she said.
Town streets that carry the most traffic, known as arterial and collector streets, and those that serve as school bus routes still will be plowed for every snowfall under the revised policy.
In addition, if 8 inches or more of snow is predicted outside of the four-month window the policy covers, plows will be sent into neighborhoods. The warmer weather often accompanying snowfalls before Nov. 15 and after March 15 usually melts lesser amounts of snow before plows could get into neighborhoods.
Also new this snow season, the town will launch an online service on which residents can track town snowplows’ progress.
Each plowing vehicle is being outfitted with a global positioning system device, the data from which will be used to produce an online map residents can access to see where plows have been and how quickly they can expect them in their area.
That service is expected to be available on CRgov.com sometime after the first of the year.
Those with questions about the policy can contact Hagen, 720-733-2472 or mhagen@CRgov.com.
Last winter, the Town of Castle Rock deployed snowplows into neighborhoods for every snow event — even dustings — as part of a new snow-removal policy created to better serve residents.
When reviewing that policy’s effectiveness after its first season in action, town staff determined sending trucks out for even the slightest amount of snow was overkill and that staff and equipment resources could be used for better purposes, assistant public works director Maria Hagen recently told town council.
That’s why staff asked council, which gave its unanimous approval, to revise the snow removal policy to include a more reasonable service threshold that better uses resources but maintains public safety.
The policy now says plows will clear residential streets during the height of snow season — Nov. 15 through March 15 — when 4 or more inches of snow fall. Staff also can use best judgment to deploy plows into neighborhoods after less snow has fallen, Hagen said, but 4 inches is the threshold.
“Our intent is to keep the streets open during storm events and to clear them as soon as possible after the snow has ceased falling,” she said.
Town streets that carry the most traffic, known as arterial and collector streets, and those that serve as school bus routes still will be plowed for every snowfall under the revised policy.
In addition, if 8 inches or more of snow is predicted outside of the four-month window the policy covers, plows will be sent into neighborhoods. The warmer weather often accompanying snowfalls before Nov. 15 and after March 15 usually melts lesser amounts of snow before plows could get into neighborhoods.
Also new this snow season, the town will launch an online service on which residents can track town snowplows’ progress.
Each plowing vehicle is being outfitted with a global positioning system device, the data from which will be used to produce an online map residents can access to see where plows have been and how quickly they can expect them in their area.
That service is expected to be available on CRgov.com sometime after the first of the year.
Those with questions about the policy can contact Hagen, 720-733-2472 or mhagen@CRgov.com.
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