Pittsburgh officials say snow response will be better ahead of Sunday storm

Pittsburgh officials said they’re planning for an improved response this weekend when a snow storm is expected to hit the region.

Just days into Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration, the season’s first major snow event dropped between 1.5 and 2 inches of snow. Gainey joined Department of Public Works crews on the snow-covered roads to get a firsthand look at the city’s response.

With a more severe storm expected to bring 6 to 8 inches of snow Sunday into Monday, Gainey said he is hoping to use his experience with the last snowfall to make improvements for the impending storm.

Acting Public Works Director Chris Hornstein said they are hoping for an improved snow response this weekend. pic.twitter.com/EwzG1F9M9A

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“We learned a lot in our first response to snow removal, and I’m here to announce today that we will get better,” Gainey said at a news conference Friday at the Department of Public Works’ Division 3 site in Hazelwood. “It has become clear to me that we must make additional investments and improvements in our equipment and operations to effectively and efficiently prepare and respond to winter weather.”

Gainey said his administration is “working to undo years of disinvestment” in Public Works.

The ultimate goal, Gainey said, is to make sure “that all roadways in our city are safe and passable in a timely fashion.”

Acting Public Works Director Chris Hornstein said the forecasts that city officials have seen estimate Pittsburgh will get 8 to 10 inches of snow, starting around 4 p.m. Sunday. Snow will likely persist overnight and taper off by around noon Monday, with the heaviest snowfall expected overnight, he said.

Related:

• 6-8 inches of snow expected to hit Western Pa. starting Sunday

• PennDOT, Alle-Kiski municipalities treat roads differently when the snow starts to fall

Public Works crews will begin their shifts at 2 p.m. Sunday, Hornstein said.

“Our primary focus in the beginning is going to be on those primary routes and our emergency service routes, places near hospitals and our public safety facilities,” he said. “We’re mobilizing all of our resources for this snow event.”

Hornstein said the city has about 20,000 tons of salt and more than 80 plows ready to be deployed for the storm. Between 40 and 70 drivers will be plowing streets each shift, Hornstein said. Crews also will be clearing sidewalks and steps by hand.

Salt trucks are now able to “apply as much salt as they feel is appropriate,” he said, an improvement over past rules that limited how much salt could be used.

More improvements are forthcoming, but won’t be in place for this storm, Hornstein said.

Over the next few months, environmental services drivers will have an opportunity to be trained to drive snow plows to increase the number of available drivers, he said.

Construction is slated to begin on a new Department of Public Works facility to serve neighborhoods in Pittsburgh’s South Hills.

The city also has ordered 17 new snowplows, but the order has been delayed because of supply chain issues and might not arrive until later in the winter, Hornstein said.

“We’ll be able to reduce the age of our fleet and be more responsive during a snow event,” Hornstein said, explaining that the current average age of the city’s snowplows is around 11 years old. Ideally, he said, the average age of the fleet should be 5 to 6 years.

That means “trucks frequently go down for maintenance issues during a snow event,” he said.

Hornstein said he expects the city’s snow removal should be better this weekend than it was during the last storm.

Gainey encouraged residents to prepare for the storm by ensuring that they have emergency equipment in their homes and cars. He urged drivers to consider less hilly routes when possible, drive slowly and keep cellphones charged.