The City of Cedar Rapids will provide snow and ice control in a safe and cost-effective manner, weighing environmental impact, safety, budget, equipment, availability of de-icing materials and personnel concerns. A reasonable level of service for clearance of snow or ice and maintenance of the street system during the winter months is necessary for routine travel and emergency services.
Equipment
The City of Cedar Rapids fields 94 plow units to cover over 1,343 lane miles of street.
Sources of Weather Information
Weather information is essential for good planning in both snow and ice control operations. An effective weather service provides information on the storm in advance so plans and preparations can be made. The City of Cedar Rapids will use Meteorlogix, police dept., I.D.O.T., local news services and the Weather Channel during the snow and ice season.
When Snow or Ice Operations Begin
The street director or his designee will decide when to begin snow or ice control operations based on the following criteria:
- Icy conditions on streets, which seriously affect travel.
- The depth and time of snow accumulation along with the volume of traffic will dictate when plowing operations will begin. Normally this is when snow accumulations reach two inches or when blowing and drifting of snow seriously affects traffic.
Snow Removal Priorities
In order to make efficient use of available resources the following snow removal priorities are established:
- The first priority is the emergency snow.
- Routes and other main collector streets which connect major sections of the City to provide access for emergency fire, police, medical services, schools and commercial businesses or are bus routes.
- The second priority is the residential streets.
- It is the City of Cedar Rapids' current policy that alleys and private streets are the property owners responsibility for any snow removal activities.
- All sidewalks adjacent to private property are the responsibility of the property owner. The City will provide snow and ice control on those sidewalks adjacent to City property.
- Snow placed in driveways by City plows is the property owners responsibility for removal. Snow from a private driveway may not be placed on or pushed across a City street.
- The City will only clean snow within the confines of curb line to curb line of a street. The property owner is responsible for any other snow cleaning around mail boxes and to assure the mailbox is properly installed behind the curb line and able to withstand snow clearing efforts by the City. If in the event that a mailbox is damaged by City plows, it will be replaced with a standard mailbox and post only.
Plow Damage
During a snow event it is very difficult, at times, for plow operators to judge where curbs and other obstacles are located since everything is buried in snow. In the event that damage occurs to your yard due to plowing operations, the City will repair sod damage in a timely manner in the spring.
Motorists and Safety Concerns
- Observe all parking bans; this expedites snow removal efforts by City forces.
- Remain off the road during snow storms unless absolutely necessary.
- Do not allow children to make snow forts at the edge of the street; this is a dangerous situation, as there has been reported deaths in other cities when plows pass and cave snow in and bury children in their forts.
- Reduce your speed and drive cautiously; remember, driving on slick winter pavements is hazardous, even if they have been plowed.
Finally, have patience around City plows. Snow plowing is a time consuming, laborious and stressful job. Do not follow plows too closely. During their operation they occasionally have to stop and back up. If you get in the 'blind spot' when they are backing up, it can only lead to an occurrence that no one would want to happen. An average City plow weighs 50,000 pounds and up, versus a car that weighs 3,000 pounds. Please give the plows plenty of room to do a good job for you and everyone else.