Media Contacts:	Karyn Le Blanc, 202-671-3490, John Lisle, 202-671-2004 (DDOT)
	Linda Grant 202-671-2375 (DPW)

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty participated in a training session for District snow-plow drivers today and announced the city’s preparations for the upcoming snow season with leaders of the District’s Snow Team. Department of Public Works (DPW) Director William O. Howland, Jr. and the District’s interim Snow Coordinator, Robert Marsili, provided a briefing on the Snow Team’s readiness to respond to inclement weather this winter including updates to the snow deployment plan that are anticipated to improve response time in residential neighborhoods during a major snow event.

DPW and the Department of Transportation (DDOT) are taking delivery and processing 33 new light plow vehicles this fall. The new equipment allows the Snow Team to divide the city’s neighborhoods into smaller, more manageable routes. There are now 82 light plow routes, up from 49 in previous years. Also, there are now three shifts of drivers to provide continuing coverage in the event of an extended storm.

“We have more trucks, more drivers, and more routes,” said Mayor Fenty. “That will allow us to treat and clear all of the city’s streets—not just the major roads—faster than ever before.”

After meeting with the Snow Team this morning, the Mayor briefly took the wheel of a snowplow simulator in an RFK Stadium parking lot. The simulator is being used all week to train drivers to operate heavy and light plow vehicles in severe weather conditions.

“We’ve got a lot of new drivers this year and we want to make sure they get some practical experience before they hit the streets for the first real storm,” said Director Howland. “The simulator is a great training tool because it realistically shows what it’s like to handle a plow in snow and ice.”

In preparation for the upcoming snow season, the District has also filled its 5 salt domes to capacity with 40,000 tons of salt. In addition, there are two 15,000 gallon tanks of brine on hand to pre-treat roadways for slick conditions and four tanker trucks that will be used in advance of forecasted storms. The District’s snow removal budget for the current fiscal year is approximately $6.2 million.

“We started preparing for snow months ago and we’re as ready as we can be.” said Mr. Marsili. “What we’re planning—with the Mayor’s leadership—is a very, aggressive, forward-leading approach to respond to the threat of bad weather.”

DDOT and DPW remind commuters and residents to:

• Remember that driving on ice is significantly different than driving on snow.
• Use extreme caution and maintain safe speeds and distances from other vehicles.
• Remember even a 4-wheel drive SUV does not perform well in ice and additional safety measures should be followed.
• Be aware of road conditions, particularly black ice which can be deceptive in its appearance giving the driver a false sense of security on the road.
• Watch for slippery bridge decks, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition.Bridge decks will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.
• Remember to keep a safe distance from emergency and snow vehicles and please use caution when attempting to pass a snowplow. Give the drivers plenty of room to safely do their jobs.
• Clear all the snow and ice from your vehicle’s windows and lights—even the hood and roof—before driving.
• Help your elderly or disabled neighbors remove snow from steps and sidewalks.
• Clear catch basins and fire hydrants.
• Please do not put snow in the street. Put all cleared snow, from parked cars and sidewalks, in the “tree box,” front yard, or between the curb and sidewalk.