SPOKANE, Wash.-- The City of Spokane announced Monday that it is more than doubling the number of snow gates to 16 for the upcoming winter season.
The gates are used to prevent driveway berms during plowing efforts. Last year the gates were installed on seven pieces of equipment.
The city said it updated its Snow Response Plan in 2017 to bring greater satisfaction for its citizens. Mayor David Condon said that they plowed in residential areas more frequently last year and kept more snow away from the curb.
According to streets director Gary Kaesemeyer, the equipment with the gates work along the curb line while the plow works on the middle of the street
The city said front end motors allow for the greatest flexibility when plowing curbs and it is adding more to the fleet this year.
"New equipment will completely eliminate driveway berms, particularly for those who live along in our trail that need frequent plowing. It will make a big difference for our citizens," said Kaesemeyer. " We'll make an effort to use them on all residential areas as much as we possibly can."
The city is asking for citizens to help out by parking on the odd side of the street and by moving big vehicles such as RVs and boats off the streets during the winter months.
The city said it will try to keep snow away from the curb and sidewalks as much as possible. Citizens can also help by shoveling around their residence.
The city is paying for the gates by using funds from its annual fleet budget that is associated with the fleet department.
"It's part of the general fund and so of course we'll make an allocation. We're just finishing up the capital budget plan," said Mayor Condon. "When they're general fund departments, the capital plan is made out of general taxes so there isn't exact allocations per tax."
Each gate costs roughly $25,000. The city is expecting the gates to be ready by mid-October or beginning of November.
"We changed the routes last year by heading into the neighborhoods sooner so we'll continue on that practice and improve on it this year. We're looking forward to taking what we learned last year and applying it to this year," said Kaesemeyer
