How does the Public Works Department manage plowing resources?
South Jordan City is split into five zones for crews to plow. Public Works has 12 large trucks and 14 light-duty trucks used for plowing the 850 lane miles of roads throughout the City.
City staff uses several different materials in snow fighting: pre-wet brine applications, liquid calcium chloride and standard and red salt. Drivers use these tools depending on the temperature, timing, intensity, and duration of the storm.
All plow trucks are equipped with GPS equipment, allowing supervisors to monitor plowing efforts in real-time. This data allows for decisions to be made for shifting resources from one area of the City to another with the goal of clearing streets as quickly and safely as possible.
Most importantly, we have committed staff that train, work hard, and communicate with each other as they are out clearing City streets. Their teamwork and experience lead to roads getting cleared faster while minimizing materials and labor costs.
How does the Public Works Department decide which roads to plow first?
A big-picture perspective on prioritization means deciding which roads if cleared first, would have the greatest positive impact on residents moving through the City in a safe and timely manner.
Typically, the roads most impactful to traffic patterns have the highest volume of traffic. Other first-priority roads include hills that would be difficult to start and stop on if there is packed snow or ice.
Next on the priority list are residential streets and school and ADA routes. These are roads used to get in and out of neighborhoods.
Lastly, cul-de-sacs, alleys, and dead ends are plowed. These are the last priority as they are low-traffic areas.
Parking during a snow event
It’s very important for vehicles to follow South Jordan City’s parking ordinance during a snowstorm so that our plow drivers can safely maneuver large equipment through streets as they work to keep the roadways safe for everyone. There is an interactive map available at sjc.utah.gov/public-works that will show where parking is allowed during a snowstorm in your neighborhood.
Parking During a Snow Event: Municipal Code 10.20.010
Parking Restrictions: The accumulation of one inch (1") or more of snow upon the public right of way shall be considered a “snow event”. During the period from November 1 through March 1, parking in the public right of way is only allowed on the side of the street with even building numbers during a snow event and for a period of twenty-four (24) hours after the end of a snow event.
Exceptions To Parking Restrictions: The parking restrictions shall not apply in the following circumstances:
a. Where “no parking” signs are posted on the allowable side (even building numbers), cars will be allowed to park on the opposite side of the road, unless no parking signs are located on both sides of the road.
b. Where a public road is divided by a landscaped median with one-way travel in each direction.
c. Vehicles may park for not more than five (5) minutes on the restricted side of the road when loading or unloading passengers.
d. Vehicles may park for not more than thirty (30) minutes when loading on the restricted side of the road when unloading or delivering property or supplies.
e. Medical, fire, police, city maintenance, or other emergency vehicles during emergency response shall not be limited by parking restrictions.
f. A person may apply to the city for authorization for all-night parking on the restricted side when the same is required by emergency or other unusual circumstances. The chief of police shall be the sole judge as to the necessity and requirement for the authorized all-night parking.