WESTFIELD–In spite of the Farmer’s Almanac predicting that snow could come as soon as Election Day this year, the Department of Public Works is ready.
The Westfield Department of Public Works’ Francis Cain, who oversees snow and ice control in the city, said that his crew and equipment is ready to take on what is being forecasted as an especially snowy and cold winter. In addition to hundreds of tons of salt, over a dozen vehicles and dozens of contractors, the department also has a new program called “Snow OPS,” which will let them more efficiently run snow removal in the city.
One of the vehicles used for snow removal and salt spreading.
“We started planning for the next plowing at the end of the last plowing,” Cain said.
This preparation included repairing vehicles and inventorying equipment before April 1, analyzing winter data, ordering parts and supplies and training snow plow drivers through the Baystate Roads training program.
This year, it also meant creating a new central headquarters for all snow removal operation in the city.
The department invested in the Snow OPS program, created by PeopleGIS, in order to better streamline communication and control assets during storms. The program is described as a “comprehensive, web-based data management system, capable of tracking the activities of municipal employees and now plow contractors during snow storm events.”
The program will be used out of the Ponders Hollow Road Public Works building, with two 40 inch television screens displayed on a wall and a computer system set up for a central dispatcher. The dispatcher will be able to see all of the snow plows on a screen through a GPS system, with one screen dedicated to city employees and the other dedicated to contractors.
Rows of plows at Ponders Hollow Road
Cain said that the GPS system works through the radios, which all have GPS locators within them. Additionally, they are providing contractors with portable two-way radios that have GPS and the ability to communicate with the central dispatch center.
“In the modern day you want to have more control of your assets,” Cain said.
In total, Cain said that the city has 12 to 15 snow plow vehicles ready at a time, as well as up to 65 contractors available. Contractors are requested by the city for any snow total greater than 2 inches.
Additional preparation by the DPW also includes pre-treating roadways with salt mixtures to try and reduce ice and increase snow removal during plowing.
“When the snow comes and mixes with the salt it makes a brine, which makes less ice and more removal,” Cain said. “Even vehicle traffic makes that brine.”
Cain said that the city has a total of 1,000 tons of salt in storage and is ready for storms. This is enough for any initial snow and they can get more as needed.
A salt storage building filled to the rafters with salt on Ponders Hollow Road.
Cain said the department uses about 250 to 300 tons of salt per storm, and in an average year can use about 3,500 tons of the product.
Cain also said that the department makes sure to take care of any snow that is on city walkways, including the bike trail. However, there is one place that they will not remove snow and this is where they need residents’ help.
“All landowners are responsible for snow removal in front of their property or else they incur a fine,” Cain said. This includes businesses and homes.
However, after you’re done shoveling this winter, make sure to get out there and enjoy the winter weather.
