Snow Removal Procedures

Snow Removal Responsibilities

  • 6.3 miles of roads
  • 3.5 miles of service drives
  • 23 miles of walks
  • 35 acres of parking lots with 6,700 parking spaces
  • Five satellite sites: University Downtown Center, Innovative Technologies Complex, School of Pharmacy, Commerce Road and Endicott Storage Facility
  • 4 acres of synthetic athletic fields

Staffing & Equipment

  • 16 Grounds workers
  • Snow removal volunteer program
  • Redeployment of Custodial staff
  • Vehicles
    • Age ranges from 1986-2019
    • 40% of vehicles more than ten years old

  • Depending on the storm, up to 230 people may be involved in snow removal efforts

  • It is not unusual for Grounds crews to work 80+ hours a week during periods of inclement weather

  • During severe storms, an outside contractor is used to supplement snow removal efforts

Facts

The Grounds crew begins plowing when there is 1⁄2 an inch of snow accumulation

Under ideal conditions*, it takes approximately 21⁄2 hours for one pass on sidewalks and 2-4 hours for one pass on parking lots

*Ideal conditions are times with little vehicular or pedestrian traffic (usually when a storm occurs overnight)

Comparison

The Town of Vestal begins plowing after 3 inches of snow accumulation

Priorities

  1. Main roads (for fire and emergency access)
  2. Access to electrical switchgear, gashouse and coal silo
  3. Snow lots/Parking Structure (must be cleared and sanded by 8 a.m.)
  4. Priority pedestrian walks
  5. Parking areas for students/staff with disabilities
  6. Drop off points for Campus Pre School and Institute for Child Development

  7. University Police lot

  8. Health Services/Harpur’s Ferry

  9. Commuter lots (closed until they can be cleared)

  10. Remaining pedestrian walks and service drives

  11. Resident parking lots

  12. Access to water tanks

Challenges

Timing of the storm- the worst time for a storm is between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

  • Parking lots are full and cannot be totally cleared until 1 a.m. when vehicles are towed from lots after University Police have made efforts to contact owners
  • Pedestrians must use walks making snow removal difficult/slow in some areas

Balancing safety and environmental impact
Sand and salt are used to treat roads, parking lots and walkways. Crews strive to minimize use of salt wherever possible. Salt is used in these designated areas:

  • Main entrances/exits (100 yards from entrance/exit)  Traffic circle
  • Drive between Paid Parking levels
  • Certain intersections
  • Lot M/Clearview
  • The Connector Road through the Nature Preserve is a reduced salt area

NOTE: If there is significant ice, more salt is used since sand does not melt ice.

Facilities Management regularly reviews snow removal practices and explores other methods to improve procedures
We will be experimenting this winter with a brine(water/salt) solution to pre-treat steps and some other small areas

Safety

Be aware that different surfaces on campus react differently in snowy/icy conditions:
Snow/ice on black top areas tends to melt faster than on areas with granite, concrete or pavers.
Use care when walking from one surface type to another

Wear proper footwear:
Boots and shoes with tread will allow for more traction than smooth soled footwear

Contact Information

Facilities Operations Center

777-2226 (24/7/365)

foc@binghamton.edu

Urgent/emergency matters should be called in to the FOC 24/7/365