Town of Truckee issued the following announcement on Nov. 6
With winter weather around the corner, we wanted to remind our residents and visitors about Town of Truckee services, what we all need to prepare for, and how you can access important information.
SNOW REMOVAL
During the winter months, the Department of Public Works will monitor the weather and street conditions daily. Storm conditions will vary due to temperature, wind, snow moisture content and snowfall amounts. As storm conditions vary, so will the response of the Public Works Department to changing conditions. The Town of Truckee is responsible for clearing Truckee maintained roads. Nevada County, Placer County and State of California clear their own roadways. Snow removal crews follow a prioritized plan for clearing streets of snow, giving special attention to school bus routes. Plowing begins as soon as there is snowfall accumulation of 3” or more. Operators will return to widen roads as conditions warrant. Following a major storm, cleanup operations may continue for three to four days.
Limited sanding is done during a snowfall because falling snow covers sand and it is scraped away on subsequent plowing passes, requiring additional sanding.
Truckee 511 maps and tracks the movement of Town sand trucks and snow removal equipment on town-maintained roads, trails and sidewalks. Time ranges are also provided enabling you to estimate when snow removal equipment was last by. This application is made available November 1st of each year (depending upon the weather of course). Truckee 511 also provides Sand and Plow Animated Route Maps for each route and CalTrans Quickmap.
For more information about the roads, trails, and sidewalks that are maintain by the Town, click here.
SNOW POLES
Town of Truckee Public Work's Crews check on the condition and placement of snow poles each fall. Snow poles are installed for the benefit of the snowplow drivers and may not necessarily be placed in front of every residential lot. Reported damaged snow poles will be replaced or removed throughout the year.
Service Request Forms are available for your convenience which can be e-mailed directly to the Public Works Department. Requests can be submitted for snow pole repair or replacement, signage damage, road hazards and line-of-sight issues such a trees that encroach into the roadways.
SNOW BERMS
Snow berms can be a temporary inconvenience during the winter months in the mountains. Winter road crews work 24/7 to accommodate the snow removal needs of our entire community. Snowplow operators clear snow from public roadways with the goal being to make as many roads passable as quickly as possible. Snow is cleared from the center of the road to the sides of the road and may block driveways. Driveway maintenance, including the removal of snow berms, remains the responsibility of the property owner or resident.
Town ordinance requires residents, business owners or contractors who are clearing snow on private property to not deposit snow into public roads or rights-of-way.
TRASH CANS & MAILBOXES
Residents should set their trash containers far enough away from the street to avoid damage by snowplows and blowers. This will help prevent trash containers from being buried in snow or being picked up by the snow blowers, shredded and blown back into their property. This practice should be maintained during and after storms, when snow blowers widen the roadways.
Mailboxes placed or installed within Town right-of-ways are the responsibility of the owner.
WINTER PARKING ORDINANCE (Section 10.17.030)
A winter parking ban is in effect from November 1 through April 30 (Section 10.17.030) and is enforced by The Town Police Department. Violators may be towed or ticketed. This ban prohibits parking on Town roads and right-of-ways. The purpose of this winter parking ban is to allow for unobstructed winter snow removal and ice control operations. The parking ban enhances safety and effectiveness of the Public Works Department efforts. Please remember it is not enough to be behind the snow poles, but you must park out of the public right-of-way.
Subdivision roads may not be plowed if parked vehicles or other obstructions interfere with the safe and continuous operation of snow removal equipment. Equipment will return to plow after parked vehicles or obstructions are removed.
HOW FAR DOES THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF WAY EXTEND?
Public right-of-ways are established on recorded Subdivision maps. The majority of roads in Truckee have a 60-foot right-of-way width. This means that the right-of-way extends approximately 30 feet on either side from the center of the road. However, right-of-way widths vary and may be wider or narrower than 60 feet. To find out a specific right-of-way width on a specific road, a helpful tool is the interactive GIS map on the Town website: https://townoftruckee.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=902bc3bcf8bb4c1b94f45d9b10c343f6
A user can add the Roadways layer to the map from the layer list, zoom in to click on a specific road, and the right-of-way width (ROW width in feet) is included in the pop-up information box. Citizens may also call the Public Works Department to ask for information. 530-582-7707.
EMERGENCIES IN A SNOW STORM
Snow removal crews sometimes receive requests from residents that their particular street be plowed immediately because they have a medical appointment or emergency. In the event of an emergency, residents should call 9-1-1. Plowing crews will provide top priority assistance to any rescue unit responding to emergencies. A previously scheduled doctor’s appointment does not constitute a “medical emergency”.
FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does the Town of Truckee prepare for the snow season?
own of Truckee road maintenance employees prepare throughout the year for snow removal. Equipment is tested on dry runs, employees are given special training, snow routes are reviewed, and private on-call snow removal contracts are put in place to help with snow removal and snow hauling when necessary.
I sometimes see the Town of Truckee trucks driving along with their snowplows up when it's snowing. Why?
There are several reasons plows aren't always pushing snow. Snow equipment may be spreading sand, may be out of sand and heading back to the maintenance yard for the refill, or traveling to a different assigned area. Be assured that once it snows the Town of Truckee crews work around the clock until the roads are in good shape.
How can I find out about road conditions in our area?
The Public Works Department Operation Center receives calls during normal business hours and storm events. Crews monitor this message system throughout each shift and will make every effort to return your call. For state-maintained roadways, call 511 or (800) 427-7623 and follow their push button directions.
I have been calling the Public Works Department, but the phone is answered by the voice mail system.
The phones at the public works operation center are manned during normal business hours and monitored during winter storm events. If you were transferred to voice mail, all lines are in use. Please leave a message and we will return your call. Keep trying if you need to talk to someone immediately.
A Town snowplow damaged my car/property. What should I do?
If possible, do not move the vehicle or damaged property until a Town employee can investigate. Please call the Operations Center at (530) 582-7707 to arrange for a member of staff to respond. You can also go to the Department of Public Works webpage and click on Claim For Damages Procedure for information on how to file a claim as well as download a claims form.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Town of Truckee
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