Why didn’t the city plow or salt my road?

There could be several reasons that a particular road is not plowed.  Sometimes, vehicles parked on the road prevent plowing.  But it may be because the storm was not heavy enough.

In 2008, the City Council adopted a policy governing snow removal, which we still follow: 

  • Large storms (4-inches or more) – plows attempt to clear every road in the City, including cul-de-sacs.  But with over 100 miles of road and a small fleet of plows, it takes 16-20 hours to do so.
  • Medium storms (1-3 inches) – only arterial and neighborhood collector roads are cleared.
  • Small storms (1-inch or less) – salting of main roads.

Plows also prioritize their routes:

  1. Arterial and high-volume streets
  2. Minor arterials and neighborhood collectors
  3. Local roads and cul-de-sacs

Since the snowplows are designed to remove loose snow, packed snow may remain on the roads.

We provide efficient service to residents at the lowest cost. This efficiency allows us to invest limited road funds into repair and paving projects.

Show All Answers

1. Why didn't my street get plowed sooner?
2. Why did my street not get plowed? It got plowed during the last storm?
3. What gets plowed in a smaller storm?
4. Why has my street never been plowed?
5. Why are there large piles of snow left by my driveway?
6. What if I am handicapped or have special needs that require additional attention?
7. What are the priorities for snow removal?
8. What level of service is expected for snow removal on streets?
9. Can I push snow from my driveway into the road?
10. Why didn’t the city plow or salt my road?