The next time the Denver area gets socked with a heavy snowstorm, the city and the airport will be ready.
At least that’s the plan.
Officials at Denver’s Public Works Department and at Denver International Airport say they are prepared to respond more vigorously in the event of another huge snowstorm like the one that paralyzed the city and shut down the airport last December.
There are new procedures in place, employees ready to be deployed and, in the case of DIA, new equipment that can plow, blow and sweep.
It all sounds good, and we’re glad they learned lessons from last year. But putting what’s on paper into practice will be the true test.
“We feel we’ve created a plan that addresses some of the areas that were troublesome last year,” said Public Works spokeswoman Ann Williams. “We’ve had to make those plans in an efficient way to stay within budget.”
The city has outlined a plan to mobilize 110 “light plows” — also known as public works or parks department pickups outfitted with a front-end blade — to plow one path down residential streets during a “major snow event,” which is defined as 1 foot or more of snow between Nov. 15 and March 15, accompanied by freezing temperatures. (We’ll have to hope a blizzard doesn’t strike on March 16; March and April are typically our wettest months.)
The city also has lifted the “additional” parking restrictions on snow routes during major storms. But posted parking restrictions will still apply. In addition, plows will clear the pavement in front of bus stops and curb ramps, a plan critical to ensuring that citizens without cars are able to remain mobile in a storm.
A glossy mailer sent to Denver area residents last week also reminded citizens to clear their sidewalks within 24 hours (four hours for businesses) and to check on elderly or sick neighbors. Residents are encouraged to report lazy neighbors (not sick or elderly) who fail to shovel their walks by calling 311. Fines for failing to clear walks range from $150 for the first violation, to $500 for the second, to $999 thereafter. “Clearing your walkway after snow has fallen affects more than just you,” Williams said.
DIA was shut down for 45 hours last Dec. 20-22, causing a disruption for travelers nationwide. The next big snowstorm, DIA will use giant snow melters instead of piling snow on ramps so high that planes can’t get in or out. Nearly four dozen off-duty employees from the airport’s fire and rescue stations also will be mobilized to enhance the regular snow removal teams.
For now, forecasters are calling for relatively warm, dry conditions for the winter season that starts officially on Dec. 22. Then again, this is Colorado.
