Do You Enjoy Leaving that Pile of Snow at the End of My Driveway?

We asked the Royal Oak Department of Public Service to answer some frequently asked questions about snowplowing city roads:

How long are the shifts and do the drivers get breaks?
Shifts are 12 hours long and begin at noon and midnight. Drivers have an opportunity to use restrooms when they stop to grab salt or fuel at the DPS service center at 1600 N. Campbell Rd., said Greg Rassel, director. Drivers also get a 30-minute break to grab something to eat.

Why do trucks travel in groups of two or three?
The most efficient way to push snow to the curb is to pass it off like a baton, Rassel said. The lead truck will travel near the center of the road and push snow to right where a second truck will grab it and push it to the curb. For larger roads it may take three trucks to accomplish the wave effect. 

How fast do trucks go?
They usually travel at around 25 to 35 miles per hour but can go much faster.

"The faster you go, the more snow you can move," said Rassel.

Why is snow plowed to the center of the street in the Central Business District?
"We don't want to plow the snow onto the sidewalks or through someone's store window," Rassel said.

After all roads in the city are plowed, crews come back and haul the snow in the CBD to the vacant parcel of land located at Interstate 696 and Woodward. And yes, there's a backup plan if that property should ever be developed, Rassel said.

Do my property taxes pay for snow removal?
Royal Oak doesn't use any local tax revenue for roads, according to City Manger Don Johnson. 

"All road funding comes from revenue shared by the state, which is collected from taxes on fuel and vehicle registration fees," Johnson said. "Although many communities subsidize the street funds with a contribution from the general fund, Royal Oak's low tax rate has never allowed for that."

What impact do cars left on the street have and does the DPS work with police to have them removed?
Drivers carry tow straps and will move cars if necessary, said driver Lee Collick, but for the most part, trucks simply maneuver around vehicles. 

The police systematically check the streets and work with the DPS to stay ahead of the plows, said Royal Oak Police Chief Corrigan O'Donohue.  More than 2,000 tickets have been issued during the first two snow emergencies this year.

What roads does the county plow?
Just Woodward Avenue.

What's the route? Where do you start and end? Is it always the same?
Main roads are the first priority. Once the main roads are salted, plowed and considered safe to drive on, the plows move into the neighborhoods.

The city is divided into 37 sections, with Section 1 in the city's southeast corner and Section 37 the area of Royal Oak north of 14 Mile Road. During the first snow emergency, plows started in the north moved south. The most recent emergency, plows started in the south and are headed north.

"We flip it for each emergency, which means if you live near 12 Mile Road, you'll always have your street plowed sometime in the middle," Rassel said. "It really does take 24 to 36 hours to hit all the streets. It doesn't matter if there is 4 inches of snow or a foot. It takes the same amount of time."

Why is my street always plowed last?
The answer is, it is not. If you live near the north or the south end of town, your street may last one cleared during a snow emergency, but the next time it will be one of the first.

How many trucks do we have?
Royal Oak has 10 to 14 large trucks out at any given time during a snow emergency. There are also three smaller trucks that are designated to clearing dead-end roads.

Trucks come off the roads to grab salt or fuel and to be repaired. It's common for blades to wear out. Bigger issues include broken parts. It can take up to four hours to make some repairs. 

Do you notice when people wave at you?
Yes. And DPS workers also notice when people throw shovels, rakes or otherwise assault them. One worker had a resident spit in his face.

"When we pick up leaves in the fall people are so happy. They give us cookies and tell us how much they love us, but if we have to shut of their water they hate us," Collick said. "I don't think people realize it's the same people doing everything." 

Do you enjoy leaving that pile of snow at the end of my driveway?
No comment, but the question did get a big laugh.