The Lowdown on Street Plowing in Ann Arbor

The City of Ann Arbor strives to maintain roads in the winter in order to provide a driving surface that is safe to use at reasonable speeds. The city does not follow a bare pavement policy.

DEFINITIONS:

Trunk line: defined by state and federal law; takes priority for snow control/removal; serves vital role in transportation and connect to highways.

Major road: critical for travel within the city limits. May or may not connect to highways.

Residential/local street: most homes, apartments and businesses reside along residential/local streets.

WHEN DOES THE CITY PLOW?

A light snow or ice event will be addressed with chemical de-icing agents. Treatment begins with trunk lines, major roads, bridges, signalized intersections and selected streets with curves or intersections with stop signs. The response starts with the snowfall and takes four to five hours to complete after snowfall has ceased.

After trunk lines and major streets are treated, crews move to residential/local streets with additional traction agents, such as sand.

With heavy snowfall of 4 inches or more, additional equipment and plows are deployed, and the snow desk is activated. Crews and equipment are utilized as circumstances dictate. After trunk lines and major streets are treated or plowed, residential streets are addressed. During heavy snow storms, winter maintenance equipment is staffed on a 24-hour schedule (12-hour shifts) until all city-maintained streets are treated.

You can help large emergency vehicles and solid waste collection trucks by removing your car from curbside parking during and after a heavy snow storm.

THE BASICS

• The city is responsible for plowing 98 miles of major roads and 197 miles of residential streets.

• The goal is to treat all streets within 24 hours of an “average” 4-inch snowstorm.

•Trunk lines, major roads and the next day’s solid waste routes are plowed first.

• The city uses salt to treat trunk lines and major roads and a 95/5 percent sand/salt mixture for select residential streets and locations.

• Trucks and plows can be monitored via the web at a2gov.org/snow.

• The city’s snow desk is activated during heavy storms. Call 734.794.6367 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. with questions or to report trouble spots.

• Schools and privately owned areas are responsible for their own de-icing and plowing.

SNOW EMERGENCIES

When a snow emergency is declared, special parking restrictions may go into effect. Where street parking is normally permitted, restrictions would allow vehicles to be removed so city services and emergency vehicle access can be maintained. “Snow emergency” streets must be kept clear of parked cars at all times during the emergency. Vehicles left in place on these streets may be ticketed and towed.

Residents will be alerted to a snow emergency via CTN Channel 16, a2gov.org (city website), Facebook (facebook.com/theCityOfAnnArbor), Twitter (@A2GOV) and local media.

CLEARING SIDEWALKS

Property owners and/or occupants are responsible for removing/treating snow and ice on the adjacent public sidewalk. Snow and ice which has accumulated prior to 6:00 a.m. must be removed by noon. Sidewalks must be also be treated with sand, salt or other substance to prevent it from becoming slippery.

Within 24 hours after the end of each accumulation of snow greater than 1 inch, the owner of every residentially zoned property must remove the accumulation from the adjacent public sidewalk and ramps leading to a crosswalk. Ice must be treated as mentioned above and removed within 24 hours after formation.

Beginning the first week of December, the city provides residents and/or property owners with one, five-gallon bucket’s worth of sand and salt mixture, per visit at the maintenance yard located at 721 N. Main.  The mixture pile is to the right of the drive before the gate and those picking up should use their own shovel and bucket and plan to load the material themselves. Please, no contractors, even if servicing sidewalks.

If a citizen has a concern regarding sidewalk snow removal 24 hours after the end of an accumulation greater than one inch, Community Standards is ready to help. Anyone can call 734.794.6942, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to report locations that may be in violation of the city snow removal ordinance. Callers should be prepared to leave their name and contact information in case staff requires additional information. Identifying information will be kept in strict confidence and only used to process service requests.

If an address is found to be in violation of the ordinance a “Sidewalk Snow Removal Notice” is issued.  The notice serves as a reminder and gives the resident or property owner an additional 24 hours to correct the situation.  If, upon re-inspection, the necessary action has not been taken, the City may clear the sidewalk and bill the property owner.  Violations of the City Ordinance can result in fines of up to $500.

Source: City of Ann Arbor