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1 ALPINE COUNTY SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS POLICY UPDATE Revisions Approved by the Alpine County Board of Supervisors September 2, 2008 The Alpine County Board of Supervisors has adopted the following policy, recommendations and information about the County’s snow removal operations. Portions of this information are only a guide, however, and are subject to change dependent on the rate of snow fall, type of snow (wet or dry), area receiving snow and equipment needed to handle a particular snow fall. For further information on County roads contact the Department of Public Works at 694-2140. For information on state highways call Cal Trans Road Info at (800) 427-7623 or (916) 445-ROAD. In the past, funding for the plowing of roads in Alpine County has come from the State of California through gas tax revenues and from the U.S. Forest Service from “forest receipts monies”. Beginning this fiscal year, Alpine County will no longer receive revenue from forest receipts. This reduction in revenues not only affects operations, but has also resulted in a reduction of Road Crew Personnel and our ability to provide the same level of snow removal service as we have in past years. The Alpine County Road Department does not receive any General County taxes or funds for road maintenance or snow removal. The Public Works Department, and especially our Road Crew, has always taken pride in providing the citizens and visitors of Alpine County with the best possible snow removal. With the severity of the current situation, we will make every effort to provide the best service possible, while keeping costs as low as possible. The current reduction in funding and personnel does, however, leave us no choice but to reduce the levels of service in our plowing and sanding of the roads, as well as limiting the amount of overtime our road crews will be able to work. Please help us to help you by complying with the following requirements: 1. GENERAL POLICY a) Snow removal will normally be split down the center of roadways with snow being plowed to both sides. In high drift areas the snow will be plowed to the side of the road wherein the wind will not blow the snow across the road causing the high drift areas. b) If at anytime it becomes necessary to close any road or portions thereof due to extreme snowfall and/or blowing and drifting snow making snow removal impossible, we will notify the Sheriff’s office, fire departments, the school, and we will attempt to notify persons living along the road. c) In case of a private citizen emergency (i.e. fire or medical) requiring snow removal, the Sheriff’s Office must be contacted at 911. The Sheriff will then radio the snow removal crews. If a snow removal operator receives an emergency call from the Sheriff’s office or other emergency responder source, the operator will immediately respond to the emergency. d) Sanding of roads will normally be done on steep hills and/or sharp curves only, and then only after storms. We will not normally be sanding on relatively flat areas or shallow curves. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 e) There will be more CHAINS or SNOW TIRES REQUIRED (R-1) restrictions. There will also be an increase in CHAINS MANDATORY (R-2) being required. f) To be legal SNOW TIRES must have a minimum of 6/32 inch (3/16”) of tread. Refer to Section 27465 Motor Vehicle Code. Check your tires for your safety as this is about ½ of new tread depth on many tires. g) Section 27460 of the California Motor Vehicle Code requires, in part, that no person shall use snow tires on four-wheel drive vehicles in place of tire traction devices (i.e. chains) whenever weather and roadway conditions at the time are such that the stopping, tractive and cornering abilities of the tires are not adequate. Four-wheel Drive Vehicles with snow tires are not the “end-all” to your safety, at times you may need to use chains. h) Watch for Ice and Frost at all times and be particularly careful in shaded areas and on north facing slopes. i) County policy no longer provides for driveway berm removal. j) County policy no longer provides for snow removal service on roads/developments not accepted by the County for road maintenance/snow removal service (see list below). k) Any road which is to be plowed must be considered safe for the operation of snow removal equipment. 2. WHEN WORK BEGINS: Snow removal will normally begin when the depth of the snow reaches three inches in any given area. This begins the operations and snow depth may exceed this in some areas before equipment reaches them. 3. WHERE (Priorities): When snow is falling in all areas with a fairly constant distribution, the following road priorities will be used for snow removal. Initial snow removal should provide for a minimum travel way of one lane in width. Roads not listed below are closed for the winter. Main arteries will be plowed first (Emigrant Trail, Hot Springs, Springs, Pleasant Valley, and Barbers) as time permits the secondary roads will be plowed. The roads listed below consist of the Primary and Secondary roads that will be plowed: MARKLEEVILLE-HOT SPRINGS AREA 1) Hot Springs Road and Markleeville Firehouse 2) Sheriff’s Office 3) Laramie Street 4) Pleasant Valley Road (to end of pavement) 5) MarkleeVillage roads 6) Montgomery Street, Barrett Lane and Cole Court ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 7) Courthouse & Administration parking 8) School Street (Museum) 9) Turtle Rock Park Road and parking area 10) Webster Street (Chamber) 11) Library parking lot (Saturdays and as otherwise needed) WOODFORDS-FREDERICKSBURG AREA 1) Woodfords Firehouse, (Diamond Valley Road) 2) Diamond Valley Road 3) Hawkside Road (school) 4) Emigrant Trail 5) Alpine Village roads 6) Springs Road/Merk Creek Court 7) Mesa Vista Roads 8) Carson River Road 9) Foothill Road 10) Shake Hill Road 11) Spring Canyon Road 12) River Ranch Road – Chambers Lane 13) Monroe Ranch Road 14) Fredericksburg Road 15) Douglas Way The following roads and areas will not be plowed: 1) Shay Creek parking area 2) Airport Road 3) West Fork Development 4) Sunrise 5) Tribal Roads 6) Goldrush Trail 7) All Driveway Berms NOTE: Blue Lakes Road, snowmobile parking area only, will be plowed by private contract administered by the California State Parks through the Snow Park Permit Program. 4. WHAT YOU CAN DO: a) Plan ahead, be prepared, get an early start and don’t travel if you don’t have to. b) Please caution your children not to play in the streets or on the snow berms as this is very dangerous. Explain to your children that drivers may not see them or be able to stop in time to avoid hitting them. c) Make sure that your snow tires are in good condition. Remember 6/32 inch minimum. d) Always carry chains. Note: because of increased traffic and icing conditions on Hot Springs Road out of Markleeville (Hot Springs Hill), on Pleasant Valley Road, and on Diamond Valley Road above Paynesville, we will at times be posting signs requiring (R-1) chains or snow tires or (R-2) two-wheel drive with ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 chains or four-wheel drive with legal snow tires. These signs, when posted, are for your safety. Please obey them. Chains may also be required on four-wheel drive vehicles pursuant to Motor Vehicle Code Section 27459 as noted above. 5. DON’Ts a) Do not park vehicles on roadways or along the edge of roadways. Vehicles blocking snow removal operations will be towed at owner’s expense. County Code Chapter 10.12 requires that all vehicles must park a minimum of five feet off the roadway on your property. b) The parking or standing of vehicles is prohibited on Montgomery Street from Highway 89 to Laramie Street on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to noon. c) Do not clear your driveway until after your road has been plowed. This will reduce the amount of snow that the plow leaves as it passes your driveway. d) Do not shovel or put snow from driveways in the roadway as this creates a hazard for other drivers, a liability for you, and is illegal. e) Do not play, ski, toboggan, sled or snowmobile on roadways, snow berms or along roadway edges. Cars, trucks and snowplows cannot stop quickly on snow and ice. f) Do not allow children and pets to play on roadways, in snow berms or along edges. g) Do not park in restricted areas of County Parking Lots. Thank you for your cooperation, and let’s have another safe winter. REMEMBER, WE NEED YOUR HELP! ALPINE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS