(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Department of Public Works (DPW) performed a snow removal “dry run” on Friday November 21st 2008 to test the city’s preparedness for the upcoming snow season. The District’s snow plows assembled at RFK Stadium at 9:00 am and spread out across the city using a snow emergency scenario to test driver responsiveness, route and equipment familiarity, completion time, and familiarize the drivers with any obstructions they may encounter.

“We have been planning and training for the snow season for months,” said DDOT interim snow coordinator, Robert Marsili. “The dry run gives us a chance to test our readiness and fine tune our plan before the real winter weather arrives.”

Thirty three new light plow vehicles have been added to the fleet this season. The new equipment will allow the snow team to divide the city’s neighborhoods into smaller, more manageable routes. There will now be 82 light plow routes, up from 49 in previous years.

“These light trucks can move a lot more snow,” said DPW Director William Howland, Jr.  “That along with more manageable routes will get our residents out of their neighborhoods sooner and safely.”

In preparation for 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.

More than 200 light and heavy snow plows are deployed in a snow event. The District’s snow removal budget for the current fiscal year is approximately $6.2 million.

For more information about the District’s snow and ice control plan, visit DDOT’s website at www.ddot.dc.gov or DPW’s website at www.dpw.dc.gov.