Are you prepared for Snow Season?
Snow season will soon be in full swing! It is our goal to provide the best snow service possible within the constraints of personnel and equipment available. Keep in mind that Parker Road/State Highway 83 is maintained and plowed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), not the Town.
Snow Operations Policy
The Public Works Department has a snow removal priority system in place. However, the time required to clear the roads depends on the snowstorm intensity, duration, wind and the temperature.
Arterial roadways are our top priority and will be cleared first; these are the major roadways that carry the most volume, such as Stroh Road, Hess Road, 20 Mile Road, Cottonwood Drive, Canterberry Parkway, Lincoln Avenue, Jordan Road, Pine Drive, Hilltop Road and Mainstreet.
Collector streets, including Dransfeldt, Riva Ridge, J. Morgan, Nate, Motsenbocker, Bradbury Parkway, Clark Farms Drive, Pine Lane, Apache Plume, Crown Crest Boulevard, Tallman, Omaha and Canterberry Trail, are our second priority. These are streets that provide access to the major arterial roadways. They will be cleared once the major roadways have been plowed.
School bus routes not already plowed under priority two are our third priority and will be plowed when accumulation exceeds three inches. Please note, the Douglas County School District redesigned bus transportation routes for the 2009-10 school year due to budget reductions, including eliminating and/or altering routes in Parker. For more information on the new bus routes, please go to www.dcsdk12.org.
As a result of these changes, the Town will be adjusting the plowing operations to accommodate the revised bus locations. This may mean certain route segments within our snow removal priority system have been modified or deleted completely and new segments added.
Local residential roads and cul-de-sacs that provide traffic flow within subdivisions and access to homes are not plowed unless 10 inches or more snow has fallen, or if major drifting has occurred. Snow depths are determined by the National Weather Service reporting.
You can help the Town do our job faster and more efficiently by being prepared for the snow season and inclement weather by doing the following:
Park your vehicles off of the street when it snows. This keeps your vehicle from being plowed in, protects it from passing vehicles and gives our snow plows more space to maneuver.
Avoid shoveling or blowing snow into the street. When we plow your street, some snow will get back on your driveway and we know this can be frustrating. You can help by shoveling the snow from your driveway into your yard, as any snow you place in the street will probably be pushed back into your driveway by a passing snow plow.
Leave your vehicle at home if possible. Avoid the stress of driving in poor weather conditions. Every car left at home reduces the number of stranded vehicles, which can slow down plowing operations. The fewer vehicles operating, the quicker the streets can be cleared.
Keep children out of the street. Caution your children to avoid playing on snow piled on the road or in cul-de-sacs. Equipment operators may not see children playing due to low visibility or other causes.
Shovel your sidewalks! Don’t forget to shovel all sidewalks on your property line when the snow stops falling. Snow left on walks turns into ice and makes for hazardous walking conditions for your neighbors.
Use caution when driving near snow plows. When driving near a snow plow, slow down and use caution. Give plow drivers plenty of room so they can do their job efficiently and safely.
Prepare your cars and yourselves for winter driving. Proper snow tires – not just “all season” rated tires – are needed. Owning and knowing how to use tire chains is also strongly recommended. Carry a tow rope or chain and a small shovel with you, along with proper footwear, gloves and hats.
By working together, we can get Parker back to normal as soon as possible after a storm. For more information on our snow policy, email the Public Works Department at publicworks@parkeronline.org or call 303.840.9546. Thank you for your assistance and understanding.