winter operations
contact us
Parking Ban Not in effect
Winter snow & ice conditions – result
in a variety of plowing and treatment responses on Portland's 320 miles of
roadway and sidewalk on the mainland and our off shore island neighborhoods
of Peaks, Little & Great Diamond and Cliff Islands. During Winter months
Public Services Dispatch office is open 24hrs a day and crews are assigned
to shifts to respond 24/7 to weather events. Major arterial roadways, hills
and intersections are first treated often before plowing operations begin,
usually when around 2” of snow falls. Plow teams are assigned via geographic
area and concentrate first on major roadways and connectors to move traffic
along before heading into residential areas. Plowing phases - first response
to winter snow & ice might be deicing treatment followed by cutting in the
first path and successive route plowing to keep up with the snowfall. In the
final cleanup phase snow-banks are often pushed back to make room for future
snow storms. Snow hauling takes place in the downtown district and priority
areas to improve emergency access, vehicular and pedestrian transportation
after large snow events.
How you can help - First, drive safely and ‘as needed’ during snow
& ice events. Reduce speed during snow & ice conditions. Before driving-
clear off ALL snow & ice from your vehicle including windows for better
visibility.
* Park “off-street” or in a nearby parking lot or garage during
Winter storms greatly helps us clear the snow from our roadways.
* Alternate Transportation Links
Public Transportation & Car Pooling - Consider riding the bus or car pooling
/ ride sharing during Winter months to reduce traffic and on street parking.
* ‘Snow Sense’ Teamwork - Clear a sidewalk for a neighbor - Please
do not push or blow snow back onto city streets and sidewalks from driveways
and lots. You can help us by clearing snow from nearby catch basins and fire
hydrants when possible. This greatly helps drainage if snow turns to rain or
wet weather follows.
SNOW EMERGENCY PARKING BAN
- A city-wide Parking Ban is called as needed to allow city streets to be
cleared of snow or ice conditions. Parking Bans greatly help snowplowing
operations clear snow from our city roadways.
You can find additional information about parking bans and winter
operations :
Parking Ban Hotline: 879-0300
(call hot line 1st )
Public Services
Customer Service
Center: 874-8493
Parking Department: 874-8443
Portland Public Services will be working around the clock to clear snow from
the 320 miles of City streets. We encourage people to say home and off the
streets during the height of the storm to facilitate these efforts.
Winter reminders from Portland MEDCU
and Fire Department:
Please keep your front walkways clear in the event emergency personnel need
to get to your door. This also allows pedestrians and mail carriers to walk
safely in your neighborhood.
The City also has over 2000 fire hydrants and could use your help in
shoveling them out. Fire personnel work to get to as many of these hydrants as
possible but your assistance with this effort will help keep you and your
neighbors safe in the event of a fire.
Please check on your elderly neighbors during a storm who may need your help.
Please also note that Portland Public Services does have a TTY line available
for the hearing impaired public: 874-8494
Winter Sidewalk, Pedestrian & Bicycle Travel
Winter Sidewalks - Keeping our city sidewalks and recreational paths open and
safe during Winter months
is challenging and requires ‘teamwork’ approach from residents and businesses to
be successful.
City ordinances require that adjacent property owners clear snow and ice from
sidewalks. Many Portlander’s and commuters walk or bicycle to work even during
winter months. Help keep sidewalks safe – join us in helping Portland stay
‘walkable’ during the winter months, clear the sidewalk out front and help
neighbors when possible.
City Sidewalk Clearing - Portland Public Services operates a fleet of small
sidewalk tractors designed to clear snow from sidewalks. The City of Portland
plows an estimated 80 miles of sidewalks including ‘Portland’s Downtown
District’, school walking routes and priority sidewalks. Even with a fleet of
sidewalk plows the miles of sidewalks and conditions are often ‘challenging’. We
are often asked, why are not more sidewalks cleared by the City? Winter sidewalk
planning factor in priority walking routes, school routes and urban trails. We
evaluate sidewalk priorities with input from Portland Schools along with public
feedback. Sidewalk plow operations often run for three or more days, 24/7 using
a sidewalk plow team rotation during major Winter storms. time factor reduces
the ability to commit additional sidewalk plowing miles ‘consistently’. Our
sidewalk plow team operators ask to keep sidewalks free of trash bags, recycling
bins, parked cars and any other obstructions so we can safely clear sidewalks.
They do their best not to put snow back into your walks and driveways.
Snow storm events & plow times - When city sidewalk units are able to clear
the sidewalks with “V-blades”, usually when snow events are less then 8” and it
is feasible to push snow into windrows along the sidewalk edge, average plow
times for sidewalk clearing is around 8 hours – during larger snow events
greater then 8”
or heavy wet snow, ice conditions when snow blowers must be used the sidewalk
snow clearing can take several days. Large snow banks, heavy wet or ice
conditions can slow snow clearing from sidewalks.
Priority sidewalks include:
Portland Downtown District (PDD) - Portland Downtown District sidewalks
School Walking Routes have priority focus for sidewalk plowing and deicing
treatments
Portland Winter Sidewalk Plow Map -
Click here.
Snow Hauling / Bulk Snow Removal Operation - After large snow events
preparations are made to remove access snow from Portland’s Downtown area and
other restricted areas as needed. This often includes widening residential
streets and intersections.
Parking at Elm St and Spring St Garages - Snow ban rate is $3.00 in
after 5:00PM out by 8:00AM. Before 5:00PM 1.75 hourly rate and after 8:00AM is
the 1.75 hourly rate.
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