City plans snow routes for winter

11/17/2012

By The Telegram

With winter around the corner, the city of Garden City is reminding residents about the city's snow emergency ordinance and its snow and ice plan.

Garden City hasn't declared a snow emergency since it enacted the ordinance in 2001. However, the policy is to keep major streets, steep hills and controlled intersections passable by removing snow and sanding to counter the effects of ice build-up. The primary goal is to keep main arterials passable for public transportation and emergency vehicles. The secondary goal is to clear snow and control ice on all other arterials, collectors and steep sloped streets for general public use as quickly as possible.

During a snowstorm, when there are 2 inches of accumulation accompanied by continued snowfall and/or with the forecast for more snowfall in the immediate future, a snow emergency may be declared by the city manager.

Under the advisement of city staff, the city manager may declare a snow emergency when weather conditions warrant it for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the city.

During a declared snow emergency, all vehicles and trailers are prohibited from parking on Snow Emergency Routes, which are designated by signs. Vehicles and trailers parked along designated Snow Emergency Routes are subject to fines and/or towing, since the vehicles impede emergency traffic and the snow removal process.

When a snow emergency has been declared, and again when it is terminated, notice will be given through the local media outlets. All vehicles parked on emergency snow routes must be removed before the snow on the route has accumulated to a depth of 2 inches or within one hour after notice of a snow emergency has been declared.

The city's emergency snow routes include:

* Campus Drive

* Fleming Street

* Main Street, north from Kansas Avenue, and south between Kansas Avenue and the river bridge

* Taylor Avenue

* Mary Street

* Kansas Avenue

* Fulton Street

* Fourth Street (Fulton Street to Kansas Avenue)

* Downtown area, Eighth to Seventh streets on Chestnut Street, Laurel

* Street and Pine Street

* Eighth Street, between Fulton Street and Walnut Street

* Seventh Street, between Fulton and Spruce streets

* Stevens Avenue, between Pine and Eighth streets