Carson Now readers ask: Why are some streets plowed but not others? Here's what we learned
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Thu, 01/05/2023 - 11:04am
While watching the snow fall from the cozy comfort of indoors might be beautiful, it becomes a bit of a nuisance at 7 a.m. when you need to leave for work and your driveway has iced over and, worse yet, your street isn’t plowed.
Carson Now readers have asked: Why are some streets plowed but not others, and which streets do get the golden ticket to be first in line?
According to Public Works, the city has snow plow routes broken down into groups of priority. Priority One is the top priority, known as Emergency Snow Routes, while Priority Three is known as Non-Essential Snow Routes.
Priority One streets include the major thoroughfares such as Carson Street, Highway 50/William Street, 5th, Stewart, Roop, etc. as well as foothill neighborhoods that receive more snow such as Coombs Canyon, Timberline, and Kings Canyon.
As its name suggests, Priority One streets receive top priority for snow and ice control. Priority One and Two streets will be kept open and maintained at all times — which usually requires a 24 hour shift.
“These streets are considered to be the minimum network which must be kept open in order to provide a transportation system connecting the hospital, fire stations, sheriff's office, schools, government facilities and major commercial areas with the citizens of the community,” a spokesperson for Public Works wrote.
The secondary snow routes, Priority Two, are defined as all “other arterial and selected collectors which complete the major traffic volume street network.”
Secondary routes are cleared only after Priority One roads have been cleared.
These streets include S. Nevada Street, N. Deer Run Road, certain streets in the neighborhoods off of Goni, Kings Canyon, Northridge and more.
All other streets in Carson City are continued Non-Essential Priority Three, which includes the majority of side residential streets.
These streets will only receive attention during regular work hours after Priority One and Two routes have been cleared and addressed.
While street plowing is the responsibility of the city, sidewalks and driveways fall to the homeowner.
The city recommends waiting to shovel until after the plows have already been through the area so your hard work does not become irrelevant if the plows push snow back onto the sidewalks.
When shoveling, shovel the snow to the left side facing your home, or driver’s side, of the driveway.
“You've seen the plows go by; if you make a big pile at the corner of your driveway or out in the street, the plow naturally hits the pile and pushes it back where it came from,” a spokesperson for Public Works wrote.
If your street hasn’t been plowed, it’s likely that Public Works has simply been working to clear Priority One and Two streets due to the back to back storms, and has not made it to Priority Three streets yet. That does not mean that they will never attend to those streets, but homeowners should not rely on the streets being cleared during or following the next big storm.
Want to find out more, including which priority your street is listed as? Please click here to see the Snow Route maps and more.
