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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 105%;">CITY OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI
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P.O. BOX 6015 COLUMBIA, MO 65205
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<h2 style="font-size: 200%;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</h2>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">November 13, 2017</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 75px; font-size: 120%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: City of Columbia Public Works
<br />573-874-2489</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:200%;"><h3 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 170%;">Columbia Public Works prepares for winter during annual dry snow run Nov. 15</h3>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;">On Wednesday, Nov. 15, the City of Columbia plans to conduct its annual Dry Snow Run training event to prepare for the upcoming snow and ice season. Staff will review safety procedures for plow drivers and practice snow routes. Informational flyers will be placed on cars that park on Designated Snow Routes on Nov. 15 to remind them to move their vehicles if snow accumulation reaches 2 inches or more.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The training event begins at the Grissum Building, 1313 Lakeview Ave., which serves as the headquarters for snow operations. The event will also take place at the Leroy Anderson Salt Dome, 1101 Big Bear Blvd., where the City stores its plows and road treatment materials.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia has more than 1,300 lane miles of streets and 1,100 cul-de-sacs maintained by Public Works. The sheer volume of lane miles and cul-de-sacs makes it necessary to prioritize roads during ice and snow events. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over one-third of Columbia's roads, almost 500 lane miles, are priority routes that create</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> a network of major roads and residential streets that extend throughout the city towards as many neighborhoods as possible. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"It is these priority routes that drivers will review and practice on Wednesday," said Street Superintendent Sam Thomas. "The better our plow drivers know these routes, the safer and more efficient they will be, and the better prepared we will be as a City when an actual snow does occur."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They include such residential streets as Battle Avenue, Worley Street, Thornbrook Terrace and more. Their primary purpose is to ensure safe passageways to and from major highways, hospitals, schools, fire stations and commercial areas.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When a snowfall is less than 4 inches, crews focus on priority routes during normal business hours but will go into other residential areas if time and priority street conditions permit. If the snow exceeds 4 inches, crews will work around the clock to treat and plow every street in the city, beginning with priority routes, until they are deemed passable by snow inspectors. Although a street may still be snow packed, if at least one lane is accessible for a front-wheel-drive vehicle at a slow speed, the road is considered passable.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is no parking allowed on priority routes when snow accumulates 2 inches or more. Parking Utility staff do their best to warn drivers, but vehicles will be ticketed and towed at the owner's expense if they are not moved. To be reminded of when it's time to move cars off of priority routes, drivers may sign up for alerts at </span><a href="http://nixle.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nixle.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or by texting the phrase COLUMBIAPW to 888777.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For more information about City snow fighting policies and procedures, visit <a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/CoMoSnow.com">CoMoSnow.com</a>.</span></p></div>
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<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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