SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Scranton is still dealing with the aftermath of Sunday’s snowstorm as crews continue working to clear the city’s roads.
DPW crews have been working since early Sunday to open streets, and the cleanup has carried on throughout the week as conditions slowly improve.
With road conditions improving, many students returned to school Thursday after weather delays.
School bus routes were checked before classes resumed, and the County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) returned to regular service as conditions improved. City officials worked with the Scranton School District to ensure transportation was ready before reopening.
During Tuesday’s Scranton City Council meeting, residents offered both praise and criticism for the city’s storm response. Some thanked DPW workers for long hours in difficult conditions. Others raised concerns about slow plowing in neighborhoods, snow pushed onto sidewalks and driveways, and narrow streets that remained difficult to navigate.
Mayor Paige Cognetti said crews began storm operations before snowfall started and have been working around the clock, supplemented by outside contractors brought in under an emergency declaration extended another 48 hours.
“So it’s been a lot of work, and we’re really proud to be able to get it done. It’s not perfect, certainly not perfect. It’s never going to be perfect, but we continue to work. And for folks who still have questions or have a spot we just missed, let us know through DPW dispatch or 311, and we will get to it as soon as we can,” said Cognetti.
Persistent temperatures above freezing have prevented snow from melting, forcing DPW crews to push back corners, widen intersections and clear packed snow that continues to build.
Downtown required extra work as crews hauled snow out of areas where there was no space to pile it, a process that took additional time and resources.
Scranton’s plow fleet includes 18 trucks, and 14 were operational during the storm while mechanics worked through the week to keep equipment running.
Cognetti said some DPW employees called off Monday and Tuesday, but the department maintained coverage by rotating shifts and using contracted help.
Throughout the storm, officials stayed in communication with police, fire, PennDOT, hospitals, COLTS and the Scranton School District to keep bus routes and emergency access open.
Cognetti said the storm has been especially challenging for an older city with narrow streets, heavy street parking and steep hills, which often make some neighborhoods harder to reach after major storms.
She said safety takes priority over budget concerns and that the city budgets throughout the year to prepare for severe winter weather.
Residents who notice streets or areas that still have not been cleared are encouraged to contact DPW dispatch or dial 311 to report the issue.