Monday Snow Report: Slow Progress
Dear fellow Annapolitans:
Your city government has been working non-stop to clean up one of the largest snowfalls our area has seen in a century. Since snow began falling last Friday, shifts of personnel have been working 24 hours a day to clear the roadways. As of Monday morning we had four large trucks, three small trucks, two front-end loaders, one backhoe and one tractor all working hard. Despite these efforts, it will still be several days before plows are able to reach every street.
SCARCE RESOURCES
A common question I hear is, “Why hasn’t the city plowed my street yet?” The answer is that the City does not have the capacity to promptly plow all streets after a snowfall of this magnitude. The city has enough equipment to handle a typical snowstorm, but not one like this. Looking ahead, we will consider whether to invest taxpayer dollars in expanding our fleet to better handle the occasional five-or ten-year blizzard. But for now, we are allocating our scarce resources as best we can.
PRIORITIZATION OF ROADS
With 88 miles of city roads, the city prioritizes which streets to plow first. First we work to make all Snow Emergency Routes passable, then Snow Connector Routes, and finally side streets and cul-de-sacs. As of this morning we have made all Snow Emergency Routes passable as well as most Snow Connector Routes. Our crews are now turning their attention towards side streets. (Click here for a map that shows your street’s designation.)
The side streets are very slow going, and it will be several days before our crews are able to reach every side street. Unfortunately, even our snowplows have been getting stuck because of the sheer volume of snow. As a result, in some cases we are having to send in front-end loaders before sending in snow plows. As you can imagine, this is very slow going.
If you live on a side street, despite the best efforts of our crews, it may be several days before a snow plow is able to reach your street.
The declaration of a State of Emergency has enabled us to seek assistance from the Maryland National Guard and we have requested heavy equipment to assist us. If that equipment arrives it will speed our process, but either way we are still looking at several days before before all roads are passable.
“PASSABLE” VS. “CLEAR”
Our objective is to make roads passable, which is different than making roads clear down to bare pavement. The hard packed snow from vehicle tracks, combined with persistent below-freezing temperatures, make it impossible for plows to clear roads down to bare pavement. The best we can hope for is to make roads passable, which is defined as one lane that is traversible by a front-wheel drive vehicle.
LONG HAUL
Unfortunately it will be several days, perhaps even into next week, before every road and side street is passable. The forecast for additional snow Tuesday and Wednesday will only prolong our cleanup efforts. I ask for Annapolitans’ patience and cooperation as we work together to dig out from an historic snowfall.
Please check on your elderly, sick and shut-in neighbors. Anyone in need of shelter should contact the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services at 410-421-8400 or 410-863-4888.
For the latest updates visit www.Annapolis.gov. And please give a thumbs-up to a snowplow driver when you see one driving by. Your city employees are working admirably despite being outgunned by Mother Nature’s overwhelming force.
Best regards,
Josh
Some of those complaining need to put things into perspective.
Currently, the DC metro area has had the second highest snowfall in the ENTIRE nation this winter. More than Colorado or those places where people like to complain that Marylander’s are sissies because we cannot handle snow.
Syracuse is the only area in the country that has had more snow than us this season and they are only ahead by 10″.
Annapolis is no different than any other area in the region right now. We’re buried.
The same people complaining about a lack of equipment would complain if we invested in new equipment.
If you find yourself bitter, step away from the Internet and spend some quality time with your loved ones.
I have lived here my whole life, and Annapolis has become a city of whiny demanding transplants. In 1966 we had a major snow storm. Our streets were not plowed for days, my father took the sled and walked to Eastport for groceries, dragging them back. Snow is a big event here, we don’t get it much. We used to close the streets – such as the hill in Primrose – and sled. We all pay Annapolis taxes, some of us because we want to live in our hometown, and some of you because you wanted to come to this sailboat capital -but this is an old town, with narrow streets, and the plows are doing the best they can. Big trucks cannot manuever cul-de-sacs, small trucks cannot plow through deep, heavy snow. This is Annapolis folks, and this is a freak storm. The plow drivers have been without sleep for days, trying to plow out all the streets. I know most people are tired of being stuck in the house, but geez, I don’t want my taxes raised higher for equipment that may dryrot and rust before it gets a chance to be used again. When we get out, we’ll get out.Why are so mny people being so snarky and rude?
It is amazing how fast the roads have been cleared now that Mayor Cohen and more importantly Doug Smith, Chief Administrative Officer(since he seems to be making the decisions) have decided to pay the contractors to come in and help. The storm of the century and we just started contractors on tuesday? I would love to hear an answer why. I guess the citizens and local businesses get shorted while they try to save money.
Mayor, thought you’d like to know that a plow did plow in toward my drive last evening in the cul de sac of Langdon Court. Day 6 of the storm is better than nothing at all, and at least now in an emergency I could get out or someone could get in.
May I make a suggestion on how to handle plowing cul de sacs in the future? This is based on what Annapolis crews used to do before this year. It’s quite simple. THE PLOW MAKES A CIRCLE AROUND THE CUL DE SAC GETTING AS CLOSE TO EACH NEIGHBOR’S DRIVE AS POSSIBLE. You put the snow in – of course -the center of the cul de sac. There’s plenty of room and this allows all neighbors to be able to back out into the circle. In 2003, our last huge storm, this method worked quite well. The pile of snow in the center of the cul de sac didn’t melt until April, but it was OK because everyone could drive out ino the plowed circle from the beginning of the storm. Recent efforts have been dismal, and attempts to dump the accumulated snow in front of people’s homes have blocked mailboxes That ineffective method is more difficult to accomplish compared to the simple effective method I described above that was used in the past.
Mr. Cohen,
What is the condition of the street where you live ? The public is dying to know of you are in fact using your position for personal gain. Tell us please.
A lot of us have the day (or days) off and nothing better to do than to shovel show. Just a thought, but 100 people with shovels could probably dig out an entire neighborhood in a few hours. Instead of hiring a dozen contractors, maybe a good old fashioned snow-bucket brigade would also be helpful.
According to this, men should be especially willing to participate: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/09/AR2010020902466.html?hpid%3Dopinionsbox1&sub=AR
the front end loader has plowed- Hilltop,Spa,South Cherry Grove,Homewood, Dominoe…both sides.langdon ct..yes..I did the HOLE street and court!! When I get off my shift,I read your comments and write down the streets.With no lunch or breaks, I did the above streets when I finished Clearing Bayridge Rd.
I live on a court too…no one has touched mine.I shoveled my own..after my shift!
Josh:
You have my sympathy for getting hit with 3 snowstorms so soon after taking office, the last 2 one after another. I know you realize that snow removal after a major snowstorm is a core function for municipal government.
I would not advocate that the City needs to own sufficient equipment to deal with the sort of storms that have hit us this year. I am sure, however, that all concerned now see the need to have ironclad advance agreements with local contractors with plenty of heavy equipment to move snow in these situations.
I am writing at 6:00 Wed. 2/10. The 15 +/- homes on the 2nd block of So. Southwood Ave. between Virginia and Ritchie(City St.) plus the 10 or so homes on Ritchie (City St.) plus the 40 + homes in the private community off of Ritchie served by this last block on So. Southwood have apparently been ignored despite fairly substantial population (65 + homes). Indeed, I don’t think even the first block of So. Southwood off of West St. to Virginia Ave. has been plowed (another 30 or so homes).
After the Dec. storm, my block (the 200 block of So. Southwood) only got plowed late on the 3rd or 4th day after the storm because I happened to see a City plow/salt truck on Virginia Ave. and asked the driver to please turn rt. at So. Southwood and plow a lane.
While 4 wheel and all wheel drive vehicles were able to get out of the 200 block So. Southwood from Sun.-Tues. in tracks made by these vehicles, now even 4 wheel drive vehicles cannot traverse the 200 block of So. Southwood.
Since it appears that most people who responded to your message by e-mail got fairly prompt action, I am using this forum to ask that heavy equipment (that’s what it will take since we have had both storms accumulation with no plowing to date) be dispatched soon to our street, hopefully in time to get people out by Thurs. AM. Please help.
Thanks very much for whatever help we can have.
One would think a new Mayor, especially one with such an experienced well-paid management team would have other things to do than field questions about snow removal. Don’t get me wrong, I understand this is a great opportunity for Josh to show us he is one of us, that he cares, that our pain is his pain, but snow is not a new phenomenon- my research has informed me that snow has been in Maryland well before the invention of the automobile–and Josh should steer the public dialogue to the snow specialist on his Idea Team. A little snow page , with FAQ’s and fun little snow jokes.
And Josh, if this one goes horribly, you really should fire someone and show the management team you mean business. I mean, why should you know anything about snow removal ? Don’t we pay you to do something else ?
But I am curious Mr Cohen, what are the streets like near your house ? Share with us that tid-bit of very important information. Do you really feel our pain ?
I think the crews are doing a fabulous job given the weather that Mother Nature has decided to send our way. Kudos to all!
Josh: Having grown up in Buffalo, and upstate New York, I’m no stranger to snow. However, I’m glad to be here, and not dealing with this every year like many of my relatives have to. Also, am pleased that I held on to my Blazer (4 wheel drive), for over 10 years, in favor of a more fuel efficient vehicle. I’m enjoying the beauty of these snow events, but am starting to tire of shoveling every day. Keep up the good work. We’ll get through this, and Spring is hopefully right around the corner!!!
First I want to say thank you Mr. Mayor for doing your best. This is GOD’S work and out of our control. My wife works for your CIty and I’m glad you have thought about their safety and cloed the City. I know these guys are very tired and need a break too. Maybe when the snowfall stop they can get back on the streets. We can’t please all people and people will continue to complain however Ellen had (8)experiecn in this you don’t.
In my community, we have gone out to help the Count to plower the street. We got together and removed the snow out to our strees ans unblocked out fire hydrants and water drains. If people in Annapolis would do this, this would limit the unsafe conditions of elderly people so emergency vehicles can get through. Since my wife works for the City, I keep up with what’s going on there. She would be a great one to talk to with extended amounts of experience in the City income. You just keep doing what you can and GOD BLESS you ! Please be safe yourself.
Nobody can dispute that we have experienced an unprecedented amount of snow this winter. However, the response by the City of Annapolis this winter has been inadequate and poorly managed. I live within city limits and have yet to see a snow plow on South Cherry Grove Avenue from West Street. On the other hand, my sister lives in Hillsmere, which has been plowed five times as of Tuesday night. That makes no sense to me. Seems to me the city and county work crews should coordinate and work together or that the city should hire some of the MANY private contractors available. Whatever it takes. A 4-5 day response time is unacceptable for the amount of money we pay in city taxes.
Great job with the clean-up and communication.
I finally got my car out yesterday to go to work, and as instructed by the city, I parked in the Knighton garage. This was supposed to be free of charge to encorage people to get their cars off the streets for the plows. Because I didn’t have a sticker, they charged me $8 to park for the day. You can only get a sticker between 11am and 1 pm. More importantly, the annapolis.gov website free parking notice did not mention the required sticker.
Thank you JJ. This was an error on the part of the parking attendant. We have since reminded garage attendants to honor free parking for all city residents who show a driver’s license with a city address, regardless of whether the car has a parking decal.
Josh
I just saw a plow go down Bay Ridge. The significance of that is this – Montgomery County, Arlington County, the District of Columbia, Alexandria City, Alexandria County, and many other districts have stopped plowing all together due to the conditions outside.
Annapolis is going above and beyond. Thank you to the city, the officials working on this once in a lifetime situation, and the workers braving blizzard and whiteout conditions.
The same people that are on here complaining about not enough and not quick enough are the same people that will complain about a budget deficit when we spend far more than we have because of a once in a life time snow. They are the same people that are driving in a state of emergency and are not clearing sidewalks. They are the same people that drive in this despite never having driven in snow more than an inch deep. They are the people that drive four wheel drive vehicles like they are on a drive clear race track. They are the people that expect passable to mean “no snow or ice in sight”. They are the same people that get stuck and expect everyone to drop everything to help them out. They are the same people that refuse to help out others when they drive by someone who is stuck. They are the people that if you leave your parking spot you shoveled out over 2-3 hours, they will take it and say too bad when you want it back. They are the people that shovel snow from their driveway/walk/parking spot and put it in someone else’s yard/in front of their garage.
If we get 10 inches it will be the most snowfall on record. No where in the Mid Atlantic is prepared for this. No where in the US is prepared for this type of weather. As someone who has lived in the mountains of Idaho, Minnesota, and Chicago I assure you that this is an anomaly not seen anywhere!
The city is doing an exceptional job given the limitations in front of them and the enormity of the task.
I have to second SHAKEN’s post. Please people, let’s get a grip on reality. This is the biggest snow season in a century. It’s perhaps inevitable, if unfortunate, that most people are going to whine about how THEIR street hasn’t been plowed yet–but is the only explanation for it that the city (and not, I don’t know, NATURE) is somehow at fault? Maybe this is the world we live in after Katrina: there are no such things as natural disasters anymore, only human-caused “aftermath disasters.” Yes, let’s blame everything that happens to us on SOMEONE ELSE (rather than ourselves or nature or anything else). I think the city is doing the best job it can–and yes, that’s all any of us can expect.
Tell them to “STOP DUMPING CONTAMINATED SNOW INTO THE BAY“. It only takes ONE drop of oil to contaminate a million gallons of saltwater. The bay can NOT take all the gas, oil but also a drop in salt content. Did you not think of the results? Millions of creatures will die as a result of your action. The billions of dollars it has taken to clean the bay and we are appalled by this action. STOP! NO! DON’T. “They” are being allowed to dump millions maybe billions of gas, oil, trash, and God only know what else off of pier #5 of the inner harbor? and even shown it on the news. WHY?
President
World Sea Life Foundation
February 9, 2010
We are dismayed that so few streets were passable as late as yesterday afternoon in Eastport (after 5 days!). it was obvious that side streets such as State, Burnside, etc. had not been plowed at all. Many people were trying to get out and stock up for the next major snowstorm today and were unable to drive to the grocery store. There were many cars stuck, tow trucks stuck and even a large tractor trailer truck stuck which was trying to deliver food to area restaurants.
Snow management has failed. Why is President Street the only street in Eastport that has had enough attention to make it bare pavement? HACA had their office cleared and their personnel and equipment were still tooling around there taking another pass. Bay Ridge, a Snow Emergency Route, is a 6 inch pack ice sheet with ruts and cars parked along it. Severn, a Snow Connector, had a semi, a delivery truck and a Jeep stuck for half the day yesterday, making huge ruts down to the pavement on the 6″ pack ice. The streets are in the same condition, and I have not seen one plow pass my house on Severn since the beginning of the storm. Not saying it didn’t happen, but the street looks like it probably didn’t. If power goes out we will have a serious emergency. Lets hope that doesn’t happen, but can the city develop a more effective plan for handling this? Thanks.