The Department of Public Works (DPW) has announced that daytime mechanical street sweeping will resume in scheduled, signed residential neighborhoods on Monday, March 23, 2009. Alternate-side parking restrictions in these areas will go into effect as well. Parking tickets, which carry a $30 fine, will be issued, beginning March 30, to vehicles parked during street sweeping hours in areas posted with “No Parking/Street Cleaning” signs.
 
Beginning March 30, parked cars also may be towed to allow the sweepers access to the curbside. Generally, parking is prohibited for two hours while sweeping is underway.
 
“Although we will not be issuing tickets until March 30, we remind residents to observe the street cleaning signs so our sweepers can resume cleaning residential streets,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr.
 
DPW street sweepers cover about 4,000 lane miles monthly, removing litter and pollutants by brushing them onto a conveyor system, which transports the material into a debris hopper. The sweeper also emits a fine spray of water to help control dust. Street sweeping is suspended during winter as the sprayed water can freeze on the street and cause dangerous driving conditions.  DPW also sweeps commercial corridors year-round.
 
For more information about DPW’s street sweeping program, visit http://www.dpw.dc.gov/.