February 17, 2010
February 13, 2010
Snow Removal Update: What to Expect This Weekend in Montgomery County
For Immediate Release:
Snow Removal Update:
What to Expect This Weekend in
The two back-to-back blizzards in
Here’s What DOT Has Done:
- Cleared Primary and Secondary Roads Through Plowing and Snow Removal. Because of the historic amount of snow that must be cleared, DOT is conducting two different snow removal operations. In some areas, crews are plowing snow. In the more urbanized areas where there is inadequate space to pile up plowed snow, DOT is actually removing snow by loading it into dump trucks and hauling it away. This is an extremely time and resource intensive job that will take much longer than typical plowing operations.
- Begun Clearing Neighborhood Streets. Many residents are understandably frustrated by the huge snowfalls and are eager to get out of their neighborhoods and resume their normal activities. Typically, it takes DOT 60 hours after a snowfall ends to clear the County’s roads of a 24-inch snowfall. Yet, just 24 hours after the end of Wednesday’s blizzard, DOT has brought primary and secondary roads to relatively good condition and is already clearing neighborhood streets.
- Ensured Emergency Services are Able to Reach Residents. DOT snow plow operators continue to escort Police, Fire and Rescue and others to ensure they have access to residents who call with an emergency.
- Aided in Getting Power Restored to Residents. DOT snow plows also accompanied PEPCO repair crews to make sure they could get to areas without power.
Here’s What to Expect This Weekend:
· Business District Snow Removal.
Crews will begin removing snow in the business districts in
· Continue Operations on Neighborhood Streets.
Crews will continue to clear neighborhood streets.
· Return to Remove More Snow from All Roads.
Crews will go back to primary, secondary and neighborhood roads to remove additional snow.
Some Facts to Help Understand DOT’s Operations:
- DOT clears more than 5,000 lane miles of road in
- The State Highway Administration clears all numbered roads in the County, which includes major arteries, such as
- Major municipalities, such as
- DOT’s first priority in clearing roads is to remove snow from emergency routes and primary roads (main and divided highways such as
- Next, secondary roads are cleared, which are the main roads within neighborhoods. Residents may become understandably concerned that their street has been missed when secondary roads just a couple blocks away have been cleared and their road has not. However, all secondary roads must be cleared before any work on residential streets can begin because otherwise, residents driving out of their neighborhoods will have no access to main roads.
- DOT’s policy about clearing roads is that primary and secondary roads are generally cleared to bare pavement. Neighborhood roads are not. Instead, they are made passable.
What Residents Can Do:
- Be patient.
- The county remains under a Snow Emergency Plan, which means there is no parking on roads designated by red and white snow emergency signs.
- Give crews an opportunity to reach neighborhood streets over the next two days.
- Residents may call 240-777-6000 or email highway@montgomerycountymd.gov if they believe their street has been missed.
# # #
Media Contact: Public Information Office, 240-777-6507
February 10, 2010
Councilmember Navarro Votes to Protect Ride On and Healthcare; Approves $70 million FY10 Savings Plan
During yesterday's Council session on the County Executive's proposed $70 million FY10 savings plan, I voted along with a majority of my colleagues to retain all Ride On service rather than make the reductions proposed by the Executive. Although I fully understand the seriousness of our current fiscal crisis, I believe that transit service must remain a top priority, especially in these economic conditions. Many of my constituents depend on Ride On to get to work, school or important community activities and the proposed reductions would have a serious negative impact on their lives. The Council may have to consider Ride On cuts again once we receive the County Executive's proposed FY11 operating budget. However, I remain committed to seeking out every possible alternative before making any reductions in this fundamental County service.
In addition, I voted yesterday to restore $183,000 to Montgomery Cares, which provides critical healthcare services to uninsured County residents. Instead, the Department of Health and Human Services will offset this amount with reductions elsewhere in its budget.
Although we were able to protect these services, the Council voted unanimously to approve an overall $70 million budget cut, for a total of $100 million in FY10 reductions.
Though these were difficult choices to make, I truly believe that my votes reaffirm my support for fiscal responsibility while minimizing the impact of cuts on our most vulnerable residents.
February 9, 2010
Storm Services Information Update
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation's Division of Highway Services is managing snow removal operations. Unfortunately, our office has been advised by the
In addition, we are aware that thousands of residents are still without power. PEPCO and BG&E have notified our office that they are working around the clock and have brought in emergency crews to restore power as soon as possible. In the meantime, the County has opened warming centers at the following locations:
If you need to contact DOT directly, the number is 240-777-6000. If you have a medical emergency or need to report a downed, live wire please dial
Winter Storm Update from Montgomery County (Courtesy of Alert Montgomery)
Since early Monday, all Montgomery County efforts have been fully focused on 4,128 miles of neighborhood roads – divided into 140 plow routes – with workers and machinery laboring around-the-clock to clear the snow as soon as possible.
Thousands still remain without power and hundreds of trees are down. The County continues to work closely with PEPCO to provide them with the snowplows, tree crews, and other assistance they need to restore service.
The shelter at Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville, remains open. Transport to the center is being handled by County volunteers with 4-wheel-drive vehicles and by Maryland National Guard members. Medical emergency calls continue to be handled by Fire & Rescue.
Ride On buses will operate on an “S” schedule today. Parking enforcement in County garages and parking lots will remain suspended through Thursday. County liquor stores will be open. The Solid Waste Transfer Station will close at 5 PM today.
Given piles of plowed snow along streets and at intersections, County officials urge motorists and pedestrians to continue to exercise extreme caution. Residents should continue to check in on friends and neighbors to make sure they are all right.
If there is an emergency, County residents should call 911. Please do not call 911 with snow plowing questions, as that delays responses to emergency calls. For snow calls, call 240-777-6000 or email highway@montgomerycountymd.gov. To volunteer with a 4-wheel drive vehicle, call 240-777-2600.
Tell others about Alert Montgomery! Have them sign-up for this free county service at https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov
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