Snow and Ice Removal

Snow Removal Activities

The City of College Park’s priority during a snow event is public safety. Our goal is to clear snow and ice as quickly and efficiently as possible, restoring safe travel for emergency crews, motorists, and pedestrians. Snow and ice removal are considered an emergency operation and takes precedence over other Public Works tasks.

The snow plan will go into effect upon the order of the City Manager or the Director of Public Works. The plan consists of an Alert Phase and an Operation Phase. The alert phase may include pre-treating designated streets with salt brine to prevent snow and ice adhesion to the road surface. Snow or icy precipitation, which requires roadway treatment, will be considered an emergency under the operational phase.

The operational phase of a snow event includes the following steps:

  1. Snow removal equipment will be dispatched to predetermined routes when snow or ice is imminent. Salting operations may begin at the onset of precipitation, depending on pavement temperature and the forecast
  2. Snow removal routes are divided into primary and secondary streets. Primary streets will be treated and/or cleared first, followed by secondary streets.
  3. First application of salt will be ordered by the Director or Assistant Director. Plowing operations will commence when there is an accumulated amount of snow or slush on the roadway.
  4. Initially, one lane will be plowed on all streets followed by widening of the plowed lane. All streets will be plowed curb to curb, as conditions allow.
  5. City parking lots will be plowed by pickup trucks equipped with plows and salt spreaders.

Snow and Ice Control - Park on the even side!

Things you can do to help include:

  • Have patience: crews work around the clock during snow events to clear the streets. Although your street may not be plowed as quickly as you would like, our crews will make their way to you. Your patience is appreciated during these times. It’s a good idea to wait until the snowplows are finished on your street to shovel driveway aprons and sidewalks, to avoid extra work).
  • Park off the street whenever possible so plows can clear snow to the curb.
  • Park on the EVEN side of the street if off-street parking is not available. Exception: if a resident’s address is odd-numbered and the area across from their house is undeveloped, park on the odd side of the street.
  • The City is not responsible for clearing snow from driveways or driveway aprons - this is the resident's responsibility. If you begin to remove snow before the trucks are finished, be mindful that your driveway may need to be cleared more than once.
  • Clear snow and ice from the sidewalks and storm drains and fire hydrants in front of your residence.

Always plan to set your refuse and recycling carts out for your regularly scheduled day during snow events. Refuse and recycling collections may occur later in the day than normal.

Live Updates During Snow Events

Want to see where our crews are plowing? Check out our new City snow plow status link here: https://citizeninsights.geotab.com/#/collegeparkmd.

Department of Public Works is staffed around the clock during snow events, if you have a question or concern, call 240-487-3590 or email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov.

For more information related to snow removal operations visit our website https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/snow.

Water Main Breaks

As it gets cooler, the risk of water main breaks increases.

The first step to repairing a water main is YOU! Report it to WSSC Water 301-206-4002; please have the physical address of the water main break available when you call.