Our Public Works and Parks crews ensure you have clean streets, trails, and public parking lots every winter.
In January, our Public Works and Parks crews were out six times. Crews pre-treat roads with a mixture of salt brine and beat products to increase longevity and lower the freezing point of the brine application. Before precipitation falls in the winter, you may have noticed lines on the roadway almost like it has been raked. Those lines are the brine and beat mixture that has been applied. You may wonder why we use beets. BEET 55™ and BEET 55+™ Liquid Organic Accelerator is derived from sugar beet molasses, providing a sustainable, renewable and environmentally safe alternative. More information about the product used is available by visiting www.sfgroadmaintenance.com/products/beet-55. This mixture helps prevent the snow and ice from forming a bond on the roadways, so crews can easily remove the precipitation we may receive.
Since 2022 began, below are some statistics about the usage from Public Works:
- Tons of salt: 191.5
- Lane miles spread with salt: 2,165
- Gallons of salt brine: 12,068
- Beet products: 1,345 gallons
- Calcium Chloride: 450 gallons
- Hours plowing and extra clean up: 300
- Total snow removal outings in January: 6
The Parks crews focus on clearing the public parking lots and sidewalks surrounding the area and trails. There are two dedicated trail operators, one sidewalk operator, five facility operators who also assist with the trails when the public facility areas are clear, and five building operators.
Since 2022 began, below are statistics from Parks about the clearing of snow and/or ice:
- Miles of trails: 43.54
- Miles of public sidewalks: 4.79
- Roundabout crossovers: 60
- Pioneer Parkway crossovers: 7
- Pedestrian bridges: 3
- Brick street pedestrian approaches: 14
- Flights of stairs: 3
- Decks: 2
- Gallons of salt brine: 500
- Tons of salt: 4
- Square feet of public facilities and parks parking lots: 578,787
- Hours applying salt brine: 5
- Total snow removal hours: 363.25
When an overnight snowfall event occurs, public works crews are typically called in around 3 a.m. They begin with the main roads, including NW 62nd Ave., NW 100th St., NW 86th St., NW 70th Ave., NW 54th Ave., Merle Hay Road and NW Beaver Dr. Once the main roads are clear, the crews will begin clearing residential streets. Each crew member has their designated route they clear. This map provides a list of the snow routes.
Parks crews are typically called in between 4-5 a.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. on weekends. Crews will clear all sidewalks, lots and commuter trails until they are finished. The crew strives to have all lots, trails near schools and sidewalks complete when the snow stops. This allows them to be passable for those traveling on them the next day. While the parks crew doesn’t have designated main roads, they stay until all facilities are open to the public and staff are gone. This allows them to clear the parking lots to public buildings.
We appreciate their efforts during these cold winter months to ensure our safety while traveling on the roadways and trails within our community.