Itasca

Itasca Snow Removal The main objective of our snow and ice control program is to allocate manpower, equipment, and materials to provide an (Open Road) objective. An open road objective provides that the street should be passable with only a reasonable amount of inconvenience, based upon the actual storm conditions, and should provide a safe driving surface, if reasonable driving caution is taken considering weather conditions. An open road objective should not be confused with a (Bare Pavement) objective. The Department of Public Works will begin salting roadways when precipitation, either snow or ice, begins to accumulate and cause unsafe traveling conditions. Crews will stop salting and begin an all out plowing operations whenever an inch and one half (1 ½”) of snow has accumulated on paved surfaces. Whenever 1 ½ inches of snow has accumulated and snow is still falling, the village begins an all-out plowing effort. Itasca has established a priority plowing system for the more than 180 miles of plowing lanes so main traffic routes are plowed first. Itasca’s goal is to clear every street within 6 hours after the snow has stopped falling, but heavier snows often take longer to clear. Arterial, main streets and safety sensitive areas (police/fire) are cleared first. Side-streets, cul-de-sacs, alleys, dead ends, and parking lots are cleared next. Cul-de-sacs are more difficult to clear than through streets as there is less space in the parkways to dump snow without burying driveways, mailboxes, and fire hydrants. The Village of Itasca plows most of the streets within the village limits: however, there are a number of roads that are the responsibility of other government agencies. Irving Park Road & Rohlwing Road are IDOT’s and Prospect Avenue & Thorndale Avenue are DuPage County’s jurisdiction. The size of our snow and ice control operation, in terms of equipment and drivers, is dependent upon snow accumulation and the intensity of the snowstorm. When plowing operations start we utilize all available personnel from the department including, the utility/water and waste water divisions, 8 to 12 drivers typically. We use: 3 - 2 ½ ton dump trucks w/11’ plow, salt and liquid calcium chloride 1 - 2 ½ ton dump truck w/11’ plow salt only 3 - 1 ton dump trucks w/9’ plows and salt only 6 - Pick-up trucks w/8’ plow not salt capable We divide the village into 4 areas, South, North, Central Manufacturing District (CMD) and Hamilton areas. With some exceptions Irving Park Road divides the North and South sections in the residential area. The CMD section is north of Irving Park Road west of I-290. The Hamilton area includes Park and Pierce Road, Spring Lake Business Park, Medinah in the Woods. One 2 ½ ton dump truck is assigned to each area with support from the smaller plow trucks. Salting operations typically take 2 hours to complete all village streets with an average of 45 tons per cycle. Plowing operations typically take 6 hours to complete. No two snowstorm events are the same and operations will change accordingly. The village participates in the state bid contract for salt along with most of the agencies in northern Illinois. We place our order in early spring for the winter season. Last year the entire region experienced a salt shortage. Itasca’s average yearly salt use (not including last year) over the past five years is 800 to 1000 tons; we average 20 events per season. Last season we used over 1600 tons of salt and 400 tons of sand. Responding 36 separate times. The area has received over 8” of snow (unofficially) already as of December 18, 2008 and has responded to 7 different snow and ice events. Our salt storage capacity is limited to 300 tons; we are dependant on steady salt deliveries throughout the season. This season we are receiving salt from Peru IL approximately 100 miles away. Due in part to the salt shortage last season and flooding earlier this season regional salt stock piles are low. Our cost has tripled from $41.00 per ton last season to $122.00 per ton this season. The Village has made the necessary budget adjustment and has 1600 tons of salt allocated for our use under the state contract. Our cost per salting cycle is in access of $6,000.00 and the cost per combined plowing cycle is in access of $9,000.00 each event. Salt is the best product available for melting snow and ice. It is most effective at 25 degrees Fahrenheit or above. When temperatures are less than 25 degrees liquid calcium chloride is added to stimulate the melting process. The lower the temperature the less effective salt becomes. Traffic also stimulates the melting process, which is why less traveled streets remain slick and snow covered while roadways with higher traffic volumes are clear. Taking a cue from our neighbors to the north, we are mixing sand and liquid calcium chloride with salt to stretch our supply in order to insure it lasts through the entire season. The Village of Itasca is dedicated to providing safe and passable public roadways with minimal inconvenience. All of the surrounding communities and agencies including IDOT and DDOT have modified their snow and ice control operations to a degree. Please use extra caution while driving and walking. When Is Parking on Streets Not Allowed? After snowfalls of two inches or more, the Village's winter parking ban takes effect and the following rules take effect: · No vehicles can be parked on public streets · Parking on the street will not resume until all snow removal operations have removed snow from the street · If your vehicle is found to be obstructing or preventing snow removal operations, the vehicle may be towed from the public street on order of any Police Officer Why Does My Driveway Get Plowed In? The Village snowplows are designed to direct snow to the curb side of the plow blade. These side-delivery plows are the fastest and most efficient means available to remove snowfall from the streets. As a result, snow is discharged along the length of the curb, the parkways, and the private driveway areas. The Village has hundreds of private driveways, and cleaning these off is the responsibility of the owner. To ensure that both the streets and your driveway are cleared efficiently, please follow these guidelines: · Pile your snow to the right side of the driveway - This will help alleviate the amount of snow that is piled at the end of your driveway after plows pass through. · Wait till your street has been plowed before clearing your own driveway - This will prevent your own snow piles from being piled back onto your driveway. Manpower and equipment limitations prohibit the Village from removing snow from private driveways. · Don't discharge your snow into the streets - Village Ordinances prohibit this and this snow may freeze or become compacted, creating a safety hazard for all motorists.