Campus Security & Public Safety

MEDIA CONTACT: Marlene Feist (509) 625-6740 or Ann Deasy (509) 625-6318

With new snow accumulations light in the overnight hours, City of Spokane snow removal crews made steady progress. They reworked many of the arterials in the middle of the night and plowed in the central business district.

This morning, the City already has 60 pieces of snow removal equipment out moving snow. Crews are crews are continuing work in the arterials and downtown. In the City center, crews plow to the center of the street to maintain on-street parking. This work creates berms down the center of the downtown streets; motorists should not attempt to cross the berms. Cars should be moved off arterials and STA fixed bus routes by now.

The City also has eight plow and grader teams working in the residential hill routes, those numbered 20 and above on the residential plow route map. On the south, they will work in routes 20, 21, and 24 first. On the north, they are working in routes 22 and 23. More teams will be moved to the residential areas as the day progresses. Citizens should be parked only on the odd side of the street in all residential areas by now.

The City remains under a Stage 2 Snow Declaration. The City will continue snow removal efforts 24 hours a day until crews complete a full-City plow of all arterials and residential streets. Private contract graders have been called in to supplement City Street, Water, and Wastewater employees in the plowing effort.

Check the progress of City plows on our interactive plow progress map. Citizens also can call the City’s recorded Snow Removal Hotline at 456-2666.

Citizens can be notified of updated information by following the City on Twitter or by liking the City’s official Facebook page.

When driving in these wintry conditions, the City is asking motorists to slow down, be patient, and drive according to the conditions. Don’t follow plows closely, and please do not try to pass plow trucks; it is very dangerous.

Please assist your neighbors who may need help removing snow from their driveways and sidewalks. And don’t blow or shovel snow into the street, but back into your yard. That will prevent more snow and ice from being pushed onto sidewalks and the end of driveways by City plows.

Restricting parking during snow removal efforts allows plow drivers to clear away more snow, widening the area available for vehicles and generally improving driveability. In the residential areas, parking on one side of the street also allows plow drivers to move away from the curb, reducing the amount of snow and ice that ends up on sidewalks and at the end of driveways.

Citizens can check the latest weather forecasts by going to the National Weather Service.