For several years coming out of the pandemic, local Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials fretted about the arrival of winter weather because they were seriously understaffed with qualified snowplow drivers and concerned about how they would get snow and ice cleared from local roadways.
Not so as this year’s winter season approaches.
At a news conference at a salt stockpile in Ross Thursday, Ben DeVore, maintenance manager for state roads in Allegheny County, said the agency is just about fully staffed with 134 drivers to cover the 113 snow routes in the county, plus four or five extras to fill in as needed. Additionally, the number of private contractors who have agreed to care for state roads on an as-needed basis is 17 this year, up from 12 last year.
Yasmeen Manyisha, safety press officer for Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties, said part of the reason for better staffing is an increased recruiting effort in recent years.
Additionally, the agency will train new employees at no cost for their commercial driver’s license if they don’t have one already and have hired a half dozen that way this year.
“We’re always looking for good operators,” DeVore said.
Although the area hasn’t had any measurable snow yet, DeVore said crews have been getting trucks ready for winter service since September and the department announced winter assignments last week so drivers can begin training to get familiar with their routes.
He said the department tries to get primary roads cleared in two to three hours and secondary roads in three to four hours.
In addition to its own employees and contractors, the state has deals with 90 municipalities that are paid to do some parts of state roads in their area.
Rock salt and pre-treating solutions also shouldn’t be a problem, DeVore said. The agency has about 35,000 tons of salt now and access to another 30,000 to 40,000 tons if it’s needed.
Although last winter almost every PennDOT district across the state exceeded its winter maintenance budget, cost is never a factor in caring for roads, DeVore said. The agency budgets an average of winter costs over the previous five years, and if it spends more than that, it adjusts the amount of road improvement work it does in the next construction season.
DeVore warned drivers to remain alert and provide enough space between their vehicle and a snowplow to avoid crashes. This year, snow removal equipment will have green flashing lights added to the roof in addition to the traditional yellow lights because motorists in other states have found them easier to see when it’s snowing.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he’s currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.