Priorities and levels of service

The primary objective of the Street Division is to provide for the safe and orderly movement of vehicle traffic throughout the City during all weather conditions, including severe winter storms.  Although the Street Division strives to keep all lanes of traffic moving, during extreme weather conditions travel may be limited to one lane of vehicle traffic in each direction.  The Plan also recognizes that it is not possible to remove all snow simultaneously from all streets.  Factors effecting snow and ice control operations include snowfall rate and accumulation, moisture content, temperature, time of day or night, wind velocity, and the duration of the storm.  Priorities must be established so that major collectors and arterials, and selected secondary streets are cleared first so vehicle traffic may continue to move safely and efficiently.

The Plan establishes and defines the following priorities:

STREET DIVISION

Priority One:  Major Collectors and Arterials
Includes major collectors and arterials that provide a network system for emergency services operation, and interconnect high volume streets that serve as a major network within the City and known hazardous locations such as overpasses, underpasses, and roundabouts.

Level of Service Objective:  Streets plowed and major intersections and known hazardous locations treated with sand/salt/deicer within 24 hours of storm event.

Priority Two:  Selected Secondary Streets
Includes collector streets necessary to provide access to major collectors and arterials.  These streets include routes to schools, medical facilities, major employment centers, and street locations requiring special attention, e.g., steep hills or curves, signal lights, and 4-way stops.

Level of Service Objective: Streets plowed and locations requiring special attention treated with sand/salt/deicer within 48 hours of storm event.

Priority Three:  Residential
Includes streets not mentioned above.  Normally these streets will not be cleared until accumulations reach 6 inches in depth.  Plowing on these streets will likely require additional contractor assistance.  However, contractors may be called out by the Street Division Superintendent on other snow events if the Superintendent determines the storm conditions warrant additional assistance to protect the safety of the traveling public.

Level of Service Objective:  Upon accumulation of 6 inches of snow, plowed within 96 hours of storm event.

Priority Four:  Other
Narrow Streets and Cul-de-sacs
In times of extreme snow accumulation City crews and contractors will make reasonable effort to plow narrow streets and cul-de-sacs. However, it will be up to the discretion of the driver to determine if plowing can be accomplished safely due to the ability to place snow, turn around, and impact to parked vehicles, etc.

Alleys
Snow plowing will not be performed in alleys due to the lack of space for equipment and lack of space to pile snow.

Priority Five:  Special Requests
Includes snow removal from downtown, on-street parking areas, etc.  Special requests are at the sole discretion of the Street Superintendent with consideration given to manpower and available equipment.

City Owned Driveways, Sidewalks, Pedestrian Ramps and Parking Lots
Parks Department
Clearing of City owned driveways, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, and parking lots identified in the Parks and Recreations Department Snow and Ice Removal Plan for City Owned Sidewalks and Parking Lots* will be performed by the Parks Department.  Public Works Department Water Division will assist the Parks Department, as work load allows, in eventual removal of snow piles on City owned properties. (*https://issuu.com/nampaparksandrecreation/docs/snow_and_ice_removal_plan_2018?e=4022829/54223117)

Private Property
In accordance with City of Nampa Code 9-1-8:  Curbs, Gutters and Sidewalks, “It is the duty of every property owner to maintain and repair the curb, gutter and sidewalk located on/in public right of way adjacent to his/her property.

The accumulation of snow, ice, dirt or any solid waste upon sidewalks of the City or placement of items (e.g., dumpsters, portable backstops, landscaping features, etc.) upon such so as to obstruct the same is declared to be a nuisance and the responsibility of the owner to move or remove in a timely manner. (Ord. 3371, 8-2-2004)