SPOKANE, Wash. — As Spokane awaits its first snowfall of the season, city officials unveiled their winter operations plan on Tuesday. City departments and partners gathered to provide an overview of Spokane’s strategy to handle the snowy months ahead.
Spokane Streets Department Director Clint Harris said the department is staffed and will deliver on the snow response plan providing flexibility for changing conditions with satellite materials stations located in the four corners of the City to maintain 2,100 lane miles. “Maintenance during the winter months requires a partnership between City operations and the community,” says Clint Harris, the City’s Street Director. “We appreciate the work residents, businesses, and our partners do to be prepared and keep areas clear during the winter.”
In a press release, the city said residents can expect:
- Weather conditions are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Priorities are arterials, hills, hospitals and school routes
- Materials are located throughout the city for flexibility and responsiveness
- Full-City plow during heavier snowfalls will take about 3 days
- Snow gates are used to reduce snow berms in residential areas, arterial plowing does not use gates
- Crews work to keep snow away from sidewalks when possible
As part of the plan, Spokane Public Schools (SPS) recently informed families about their winter weather communication strategy. On days impacted by winter weather, SPS will notify families by 6 a.m. via text, email, and phone call. If a family does not receive a message by that time, they can assume schools will operate on its usual schedule.
City officials gave several ways the community can help.
- Move your RV, boat or trailer, and basketball hoops off the street and to a winter storage location for the snow season. As a reminder, RVs, boats, and trailers cannot exceed 24 hours of continuous on-street parking, according to Spokane Municipal Code (16A.61.562B).
- Make sure you have adequate snow shovels or a working snow blower. Consider buying some salt or sand for traction
- Arrange for service with a snow removal company now if you don’t want to shovel yourself
- Plan where to park throughout the snow season to make room for large equipment to clear the street. Residents are asked to park on the odd-numbered side of the street during snow season to leave a maximum amount of room for plows and first responders
- Know what residential snow-plow route you live in to make it easier to track the progress of plows, during full-city plow operations
- Talk to your neighbors. Make sure you know who in your neighborhood might need help with shoveling or other winter work and offer to help
As the city readies itself for the winter season, residents are encouraged to keep an eye on Spokane’s snow plow map for real-time updates on plowing operations. Spokane County also offers a similar map for county-wide coverage.