King County Road Services - 2011-2012 Snow and Ice Plan for unincorporated King County

Division boundaries

Division 1

Division 2

Division 102

Division 3

Division 103

Division 4

Field offices and sand stockpile sites are located throughout each division to serve the areas efficiently and effectively. The Road Maintenance section also has a Special Operations Unit, which is comprised of crews with countywide areas of responsibility as follows:

• Bridge/facilities maintenance
• Drainage
• Rivers management
• Vegetation management
• Paving

During a major snow and ice event, Special Operations crews serve as supplemental forces and are dispatched to specific pre-assigned locations as needed. These crews provide support to the ongoing 24-hour Road Maintenance operations.

Field offices and sand stockpile sites are located throughout each division to serve the areas efficiently and effectively. King County Roads Maintenance also has a Special Operations Unit, which is comprised of crews with countywide areas of responsibility as follows:

• Bridge/facilities maintenance
• Drainage
• Rivers management
• Vegetation management
• Paving

During a major snow and ice event, Special Operations crews serve as supplemental forces and are dispatched to specific pre‐assigned locations as needed. These crews provide support to the ongoing 24‐hour Roads Maintenance Operations services.

Snow and ice equipment by division

Each of the four divisions discussed in the previous paragraphs have specific snow and ice removal equipment assigned to the sites. The equipment allocation and assignment follows:

• 1 - Alternate sand site
• 2 - 750-gallon anti-icing chemical applicators
• 2 - Prewetters
• 1 - Road grader
• 4 - Snow plows with sanders

• 2 - 750-gallon anti-icing chemical applicators
• 2 - Prewetters
• 2 - Road graders
• 5 - Snow plows with sanders

• 1 - Backhoe
• 1 - 1-ton dump truck with plow and sander
• 1 - Road grader with push plow
• 1 - Tractor with snow blower
• 1 - 10-yard truck with snow plow and sander

• 1 - Alternate sand site
• 2 - 750-gallon anti-icing chemical applicators
• 1 - Front loader
• 1 - Road grader
• 4 - Snow plows with sanders

• 1 - Alternate sand site
• 1 - 350-gallon anti-icing chemical applicator
• 1 - Road grader
• 2 - Snow plows with sanders

• 2 - Alternate sand sites
• 2 - 750-gallon anti-icing chemical applicators
• 2 - Prewetters
• 2 - Road graders
• 6 - Snow plows with sanders

The Roads Maintenance Facility at Renton also houses the following pool equipment, which can be dispatched as necessary:

• 1 - Alternate sand site (if staffed)
• 5 - Backhoes
• 9 - Dump trucks
• 5 - Dump trucks and trailers for sand stockpiles
• 1 - Road grader
• 5 - Snow plows with sanders

Snow and ice operations - four phases

Government agencies within King County mobilize road crews based upon the severity of a snow and ice event. There are four phases of response; procedures, resource allocations, and coordination for a major storm event are listed below:

Phase 1

A severe storm is forecast. At least one to two inches of snow or severe frost are projected with temperatures below 25 degrees. The following steps are implemented:

• Road Maintenance Section management team, division supervisors, and special operations supervisors are alerted.
• Each division is checked for snow or freezing conditions.
• Maintenance crews prepare equipment for mobilization on previously established snow and ice routes.
• Crews are on 8-hour shifts during this phase. They may be required to work more hours if the phase changes or conditions warrant.

Phase 2

Snow or freezing conditions have occurred. Roads are extremely hazardous due to icing with accumulations of approximately two inches to one foot of snow. The following steps are implemented during this phase.

• All maintenance crews are divided into two 12-hour shifts to provide 24-hour coverage.
• Special Operations crews are dispatched as necessary to each division to provide support and expertise.
• Snow and ice teams are assigned specific locations within each division and provide maintenance and support to the established snow and ice routes within those specific areas.
• The Road Services Division Director is continuously updated and advised of maintenance progress and/or problem areas.
• The Department of Transportation’s Public Information Officer is advised of the current conditions and progress.
• All personnel keep detailed records of the lane miles sanded/plowed and the tons of sand and salt used.

Phase 3

Heavy snow continues to fall. The long-range forecast calls for more storms to enter the area with additional snow accumulation up to or greater than 12 inches. The following steps are implemented during this phase:

• Crews remain on 12-hour shifts for 24-hour per day coverage.
• Additional departments within King County are requested to provide support to crews. These departments/divisions may include Solid Waste, Parks, etc.
• All available equipment is mobilized and operating 24 hours a day.
• Efforts are made to assist citizens whose vehicles are stranded and present a threat to public safety.
• Emergency services personnel are involved to provide a coordinated response to citizens’ requests for assistance.
• Each maintenance division is required to submit frequent progress reports to the superintendent/maintenance manager.

Phase 4

Extreme cold prevails. The snow has reached or exceeds 24 inches, with additional snow in the forecast. The area has been mobilized. The following steps are implemented during this phase:

• Crews remain on 12-hour shifts for 24-hour per day coverage using all Maintenance Section personnel.
• All available resources within King County area are utilized.
• The Department of Transportation may request an Executive Emergency Declaration.
• Private contractors/vendors may be contacted for additional support.

Identified snow and ice routes

Each one of the six geographic road maintenance divisions has a pre-established listing of roadways to sand and plow. The pre-established snow route areas may need to be separated into a three “category” system during a snow and ice event. Many factors affect whether the “category” system will be utilized. Factors may include, but are not limited to:

• Geographical extents of the storm
• Storm intensity
• Storm duration
• Resource availability

The category system uses an efficient and focused approach when resources are limited. In general, categories can be described as: ¹

• Category 1: Generally composed of main roadways (primary arterials, main thoroughfares, and arterials leading to state highways) and minor arterials feeding densely populated areas.
• Category 2: Generally includes minor collectors that lead to and connect with Category 1 routes. These routes provide continuity between towns, cities, and large subdivisions.
• Category 3: Normally secondary commuter routes that connect Category 1 and Category 2 routes along with other jurisdictions.

In addition to the categories, it should be understood that both roadways not designated as snow routes and the existing pre-established routes may need to be re-addressed during an event due to accidents, road hazards, requests by other agencies, and citizens; however, the Road Maintenance Section's category system will attempt to concentrate on Categories 1, 2, and 3. When a snow and ice event continues, identified routes are monitored by Road Maintenance crews on a regular check-back basis. Major roadways may require sanding and plowing at an increased frequency within a 12-hour shift and, thus, decrease the frequency of other categorized roadways. Therefore, some routes on the list may be delayed or even not sanded until major arterials are clear, depending on the severity of the event.

For more information

For more information about the King County Road Services Division Snow and Ice Plan, please contact:

¹ The route categories listed are meant to serve as a general guideline only. All snow routes are not equal; in general, the county plans to devote more resources to Category 1 roadways, but based on actual snow amount and emergency conditions, category response may vary.

Information from the Road Services Division's website is available to people with disabilities in alternate formats upon request by calling 206-263-6482 or 711 for the TTY relay service.

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