NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has issued a second snow alert for Friday, Jan. 19, beginning at 3 a.m. The alert will remain in effect through 1 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20.

 

Based on forecasts as of Jan. 18, DSNY officials said they expect one to 3 inches of snow to fall, although the forecast is subject to change. Precipitation is expected to begin as early as 3 a.m. Friday, they said, and is expected to last as late as 10 p.m. the same day.

 

During snow alerts, DSNY officials said the department coordinates with NYC Emergency Management and the NYC Department of Transportation on snow clearing protocol in accordance with each agency’s written snow plan. They said all relevant city agencies have been notified of the upcoming snow alert.

 

As of Thursday, Jan. 18, conditions in The Bronx are still very icy and slippery, despite City officials spreading salt and taking measures to mitigate the situation.

Operations Update

DSNY officials said that as conditions will be cold and dry before the next snowstorm, brine will be deployed on high spots, highways, and areas prone to icing. They said a full fleet of nearly 800 salt spreaders will begin to operate before the first precipitation falls, and said the department is fully stocked with over 700 million pounds of salt.

 

They said every street is on a route, and unlike in past years, every route can be dispatched at the same time, bringing equity in snow clearance to the entire City. They added that thanks to what were described as historic investments in DSNY, bike lanes will also be serviced simultaneously alongside car lanes. They said DSNY will be tracking these operations via the new Bladerunner 2.0 platform.

A “plowable depth” of 2” of snow on roadways is possible, and more than 2,000 of the Department’s collection trucks can and will be turned into snow plows if needed.

 

Trash/Recycling Collection:

DSNY officials are reminding residents that trash collection is ongoing, although delays are possible given this week’s holiday on Monday and the earlier snowfall on Monday / Tuesday. They said residents should follow their regular schedule and added that due to recent investments in DSNY’s headcount, only limited and sporadic delays are expected during the latest snowstorm.  

 Snow Clearing Information

DSNY officials are reminding New Yorkers that while department workers clears streets and bike lanes, property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks. They said property owners, including restaurants with outdoor dining structures, may NOT push snow into the street or onto bike lanes, as this impedes snow clearing operations and is illegal. They said snow may be moved against the building, to the curb line, or areas on private property. They added that sidewalks should be passable for all pedestrians, including a minimum 4-foot clear path, where possible.

 

DSNY officials said if the snow stops falling between:

• 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., property owners must clear sidewalks within 4 hours
• 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., property owners must clear sidewalks within 14 hours
• 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., property owners must clear sidewalks by 11 a.m.

New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for NotifyNYC, the City’s free emergency notification system, available in 14 languages including ASL. Through NotifyNYC, New Yorkers can sign up to receive phone calls, text messages, and emails alerts about severe weather events and emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visit nyc.gov/notify or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

Find information on Sanitation snow operations along with residents’ responsibilities during and after snow at nyc.gov/snow.

 

DSNY officials said all winter weather information and information about the City’s response to the storm can be found by visiting the City’s Severe Weather website at nyc.gov/severeweather or by calling 311.