RICHARDSON – When there’s a chance in the forecast for sleet, snow, rain or ice, the City of Richardson’s Public Services Department is ready to respond.
Days in advance of a weather event, like the one expected overnight and into Thursday, Public Service crews are working hard at the Breckinridge yard making sure the city’s sand pile is prepared, the salt stockpile is adequate and each of the 21 trucks available in a winter storm are running smoothly.
“We have a winter weather response plan, which has maps and routing map books that have all the intersections, bridges, hills, stop signs. Anything within the city of Richardson,”said Eric Robison, Director of Public Services.
Public services staff aren’t the only ones closely monitoring the forecast. Richardson Police and Richardson’s Emergency Management team are also on standby. They all work together to make sure streets are clear and safe to drive on.
Each driver is assigned their own route for the weather event. Before they hit the streets, drivers mobilize at the yard, filling their units with a mixture of sand and salt. A process that usually takes a few minutes to finish.
Crews concentrate on bridges, overpasses and Richardson intersections. During a winter weather event, they advise drivers: take it slow or avoid slippery conditions all together.
“Even with a full staff, it’s sometimes hard to be everywhere so if people can help it, for that weather event, please stay home. If they can’t we understand. And we will try to make those surfaces as safe as possible for them,” said Mario Aguilar, Street Superintendent.
Visit www.cor.net/winterweather for the very latest on weather conditions.
