Citation

Swartz N. Am. City Cty. 2007; 122(8): 48-53.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Penton Media)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

This article explores how balance performance standards with costs, materials, and environmental effects can keep winter road programs viable. The author shares the winter road clearing approach in two cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota and West Des Moines, Iowa, the latter of which publishes a manual of snow and ice control standards (available on the West Des Moines web site). The standards for Minneapolis are less formalized, but the author briefly outlines the general goals for each snowfall. The author notes that the level to which roads are cleared, and how quickly, depends on the amount of money agencies can spend on materials and labor, and the types of materials used. This balancing act is also apparent in the conflict between the amount of salt used for safety on the roads and the problem of salt run-off into streams, polluting the water. In McHenry County (in the state of Illinois), they are using a blended product that includes sugar beets to reduce the amount of salt put on the roads and is cost-effective as well. A final section in the article considers how to measure success, including customer satisfaction, accident data, overtime totals, total salt use, and achieving whatever local goals were established.