The recent snow storms put Moscow snow removal teams on 24/7 duty to ensure roads remained clear.
“Efficiency is our goal,” said Tyler Palmer, Moscow streets and fleets manager. “We want to make every minute count.”
Palmer said heavy snowfall conditions require the snow removal team to stick to main snow routes before taking care of residential and less-traveled areas.
“When we get into these events safety is our No. 1 priority. We make sure emergency services have the ability to get to neighborhoods,” Palmer said. “We have designated snow routes, something like the highway or main arterials get priority.”
Palmer said the city does not plow streets that are considered to be on the University of Idaho campus. UI has its own snow removal program through facilities.
According to the program’s website, Facilities Services aims “to meet the transportation and mobility needs of the campus community, while working with available resources to maximize safety and ensure daily university operations continue to function successfully.”
Facilities has mini-plows that are used on campus to clear pathways and larger trucks for the main streets. Snow removal in parking lots is a joint effort between Facilities and Parking and Transportation Services, according to the website.
UI crew members work similar operating hours to city crews. Although Charles Zillinger, program director, was unavailable to comment on the methodology used on campus, the facilities office said the crew operates all hours until the roads and pathways are clear.
The program website also said “snow removal crews work down the priority list until all areas are plowed,” which is how the city operates as well.
Although Palmer did not say snow removal takes a specific length of time, the on-campus program takes a minimum of two days to plow all campus areas with snow accumulation of four or more inches, according to its website.