King County Road Services - Snow and Ice Plan for unincorporated King County

• Introduction
• Event background and response
  • Initial response to a snow and ice event
  • Identified snow and ice routes
• King County divisions and equipment allocations
  • Organization of staff and equipment
  • Division boundaries
    • Division 1
    • Division 2
    • Skykomish
    • Division 3
    • Vashon
    • Division 4
  • Snow and ice equipment by division
• Snow and ice operations - four phases
  • Phase 1
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3
  • Phase 4
• 2009-2010 Snow and Ice Route Map (5MB .pdf)

Introduction

The King County Department of Transportation, Road Services Division maintains roads within unincorporated King County to increase the public’s safety. As part of its mission, the Division conducts sanding and snow removal operations to mitigate hazardous driving conditions during snow and ice events.

The King County Snow and Ice Plan is designed to provide the safest possible roadway system and access routes for the motoring public, Metro Transit, public schools, fire, police, aid vehicles, the citizens of King County and the surrounding communities; however, it will not eliminate the impacts or effects of a snow emergency.

The intent of this plan is to reduce the threat to public safety from a snow and ice emergency. During inclement weather, the Department of Transportation will make every effort to maintain the traffic flow in unincorporated King County to as near normal driving conditions as possible.

Event background and response

Initial response to a snow and ice event

The King County Road Services Division (RSD) is responsible for approximately 2,079 miles of roadway. This includes contract services provided to the cities of Burien (98.7 miles), Covington (52.5 miles), and Sammamish (145 miles). RSD crews also assist other surrounding jurisdictions if resources are available.

The following snow and ice equipment is dispersed throughout the unincorporated area and contract cities:

• 9 - Anti-icing chemical applicators
• 27 - Trucks with snow plow and sander combinations
• 9 - Graders
• 8 - Prewetters
• 6 - Alternate sand site
• 5 - Backhoes
• 1 - Front loader
• 15 - Dump trucks

Identified snow and ice routes

Each one of the six geographic road maintenance divisions has a pre-established listing of roadways to sand and plow. Snow and ice routes are established by the following designations:

• Major arterials
• Metro Transit and school bus snow routes
• Emergency routes (i.e., hospital access routes)
• Access roads to freeway and Park and Ride lots

When a snow and ice event continues, identified routes are monitored by Roads Maintenance crews on a regular check-back basis. Some roadways may require sanding and plowing as many as six or seven times within a 12-hour shift. Therefore, some routes on the list may not be sanded until major arterials are clear, depending on the severity of the event.

Although it is difficult to utilize crews to sand and plow residential roadways, Roads Maintenance crews make every attempt to clear steep access roads in heavily populated areas. Crews also strive to sand potentially problematic or dangerous intersections, curves and steep hills.

King County divisions and equipment allocations

Organization of staff and equipment

The King County Roads Maintenance Section headquarters is located in Renton. This facility provides 24-hour a day, 7-day a week staffing and call-in/reporting services.

Roads Maintenance Operations are divided into six separate geographic divisions, which also include Vashon Island and unincorporated King County in the Skykomish area. Each division is managed and maintained by a supervisor and an assigned staff ranging from 11 to 35 employees. Each division supervisor is responsible for planning, scheduling, and dispatching crews during snow and ice events. The Division Maintenance Superintendent is responsible for all six divisions and oversees the emergency response effort countywide. Additional support is allocated depending on prevailing conditions. Locations of operating headquarters by Roads Maintenance Division are as follows:

Division boundaries

Division 1

Bruggers Bog - 19547 25th Ave. N.E., Shoreline
Cadman - 19101 N.E. Union Hill Road, Redmond
This division encompasses all of the area of unincorporated King County north of the City of Seattle to the Snohomish County line; from the Richmond Beach area, east to the West Snoqualmie Valley Road, and running in a southerly direction to include the areas of Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville and Juanita.

Division 2

Issaquah - 23240 S.E. 74th St., Issaquah
Fall City - 4341 Preston-Fall City Road S.E., Fall City

Skykomish

Skykomish - 74212 Old Cascade Highway, Skykomish
This division encompasses all of the area of unincorporated King County east of West Snoqualmie Valley Road abutting to Division 1, from the Snohomish County Line, running southerly and including the Snoqualmie Valley area, North Bend, Issaquah and the Newport area to the May Valley Road and S.E. 128th St., running westerly to the Renton City limits and northerly to Division 1.

Division 3

Star Lake - 26701 28th Ave. S., Kent
This division encompasses all of the area of unincorporated King County south of the City of Seattle in a southerly direction to the Pierce County line and from Puget Sound easterly to the west boundary of Division 4. It encompasses the areas of Skyway, Tukwila, Kent, Burien, White Center, and Auburn.

Vashon

Vashon - 10021 S.W. Cemetery Road, Vashon
This division encompasses all of Vashon Island.

Division 4

Summit - 22801 S.E. 272nd St., Maple Valley
Diamond - 20827 Auburn-Black Diamond Road, Auburn
This division encompasses all of the area of unincorporated King County from the southerly boundary of Division 2 along the S.E. 128th St. and May Valley Road, running south to the Pierce County line and from State Highway 18 and the Maple Valley Highway, east to also include the areas of Maple Valley, Hobart, Ravensdale, Black Diamond and Enumclaw.

Field offices and sand stockpile sites are located throughout each division to serve the areas efficiently and effectively. King County Roads Maintenance also has a Special Operations Unit, which is comprised of crews with countywide areas of responsibility as follows:

• Bridge/facilities maintenance
• Drainage
• Rivers management
• Vegetation management
• Paving

During a major snow and ice event, Special Operations crews serve as supplemental forces and are dispatched to specific pre-assigned locations as needed. These crews provide support to the ongoing 24-hour Roads Maintenance Operations services.

Snow and ice equipment by division

Each of the four maintenance divisions discussed in the previous paragraphs have specific snow and ice removal equipment assigned to the sites. The equipment allocation and assignment follows:

• Division 1
  • 4 - Snow plows with sanders
  • 1 - Road grader
  • 1 - Alternate sand site
  • 2 - 750-gallon anti-icing chemical applicators
  • 2 - Prewetters
• Division 2
  • 5 - Snow plows with sanders
  • 2 - Road graders
  • 2 - 750-gallon anti-icing chemical applicators
  • 2 - Prewetters

• Skykomish
  • 1 - Road grader with push plow
  • 1 - 10-yard truck with snow plow and sander
  • 1 - 1-ton dump truck with plow and sander
  • 1 - backhoe

• Division 3
  • 4 - Snow plows with sanders
  • 1 - Sander truck
  • 1 - Road grader
  • 2 - Alternate sand sites
  • 2 - 750-gallon anti-icing chemical applicators
  • 2 - Prewetters

• Vashon
  • 2 - Snow plows with sanders
  • 1 - Road grader
  • 1 - Alternate sand site
  • 1 - 350-gallon anti-icing chemical applicator

• Division 4
  • 6 - Snow plows with sanders
  • 2 - Road graders
  • 2 - Alternate sand sites
  • 2 - 750-gallon anti-icing chemical applicators
  • 2 - Prewetters

The Roads Maintenance Facility at Renton also houses the following pool equipment, which can be dispatched as necessary:

• Renton
  • 1 - Road grader
  • 4 - Backhoes
  • 1 - Front loader
  • 11 - Dump trucks
  • 4 - Dump trucks and trailers for sand stockpiles
  • 4 - Snow plows with sanders

Snow and ice operations - Four phases

Government agencies within King County mobilize road crews based upon the severity of a snow and ice event. There are four phases of response; procedures, resource allocations, and coordination for a major storm event are listed below:

Phase 1

A severe storm is forecast. At least one to two inches of snow or severe frost are projected with temperatures below 25 degrees. The following steps are implemented:

• Roads Maintenance Section management team, division supervisors, and special operations supervisors are alerted.
• Each division is checked for snow or freezing conditions.
• Maintenance crews prepare equipment for mobilization on previously established snow and ice routes.
• Crews are on 8-hour shifts during this phase. They may be required to work more hours if the phase changes or conditions warrant.

Phase 2

Snow or freezing conditions have occurred. Roads are extremely hazardous due to icing with accumulations of approximately two inches to one foot of snow. The following steps are implemented during this phase.

• All maintenance crews are divided into two 12-hour shifts to provide 24-hour coverage.
• Special operations crews are dispatched as necessary to each division to provide support and expertise.
• Snow and ice teams are assigned specific locations within each division and provide maintenance and support to the established snow and ice routes within those specific areas.
• The Road Services Division Manager is continuously updated and advised of maintenance progress and/or problem areas.
• The Department of Transportation’s Public Information Officer is advised of the current conditions and progress.
• All personnel keep detailed records of the lane miles sanded/plowed and the tons of sand and salt used.

Phase 3

Heavy snow continues to fall. The long-range forecast calls for more storms to enter the area with additional snow accumulation up to or greater than 12 inches. The following steps are implemented during this phase:

• Crews remain on 12-hour shifts for 24-hour per day coverage.
• Additional departments within King County are requested to provide support to crews. These departments/divisions may include Solid Waste, Parks, etc.
• All available equipment is mobilized and operating 24-hours a day.
• Efforts are made to assist citizens whose vehicles are stranded and present a threat to public safety.
• Emergency services personnel are involved to provide a coordinated response to citizens’ requests for assistance.
• Each maintenance division is required to submit frequent progress reports to the superintendent/maintenance manager.

Phase 4

Extreme cold prevails. The snow has reached or exceeds 24-inches, with additional snow in the forecast. The area has been mobilized. The following steps are implemented during this phase:

• Crews remain on 12-hour shifts for 24-hour per day coverage using all Maintenance Section personnel.
• All available resources within King County area are utilized.
• The Department of Transportation may request an Executive Emergency Declaration.
• Private contractors/vendors may be contacted for additional support.

Additional resources

• Road Alert Map - featuring King County and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) travel alerts and My Commute traffic cameras
• Winter driving – frequently-asked questions
• Public Schools Emergency Communications System
• Take Winter by Storm

For more information

For more information about the King County Road Services Division Snow and Ice Plan, please contact:

King County Road Services Division
Roads Maintenance Section
155 Monroe Ave. N.E., Building A
Renton, WA 98056
206-296-8100
1-800-527-6237 toll-free
maint.roads@kingcounty.gov
206-296-8198 fax
TTY: 711 Relay Service