Photos by Shelly Hanks and Robert Hubner, WSU Photo Services, and Mike Higdon, FacOps Information Systems.
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Overview of snow
removal on campus Snow removal on the Pullman campus is provided primarily by Facilities Operations, with Residence Life maintaining areas around student housing, according to Pamela Hilliard, WSU FacOps Facilities Support Services executive director. “Every year, preparations are made well in advance of the first snow in order to address the intricacies of maintaining access to campus for both emergency responders and also for our students, staff and faculty,” she said. “Although Facilities Operations is not able to maintain a snow- and ice-free campus, the staff responsible for snow removal works tirelessly day and night to address the most critical areas of campus and ensure emergency access.” Snow-removal priorities are based upon emergency access to main arterials. Sidewalks, ramps and stairways are cleared according to high usage and handicap access. Crews begin removing snow at 5 a.m. after an evening storm, with snow removal on the streets lasting until midnight during the work week, said Hilliard. For sidewalks, snow removal begins at 5 a.m. and is maintained until 5 p.m. as necessary. Snow removal in parking lots can only be accomplished after hours and is done following higher-priority areas, she said. In most cases, snow removal is not provided after hours or on weekends unless special events are taking place on campus.
With continuing budget cuts in recent years, FacOps has implemented no-snow-maintenance areas where select walkways, sidewalks and stairs are signed as having no snow removal, Hilliard said. In most cases, alternate-access routes are available although they may not be the most direct routes that users are familiar with. FacOps’ “While staff will continue to provide the best possible service, there are things users of our streets and sidewalks can do to help themselves,” Hilliard said. “Use sound judgment and caution when traveling during and immediately after a snowfall and frigid temperatures. Proper footwear, tires and patience will afford you a much better opportunity to navigate campus safely and efficiently.” She praised FacOps teamwork for “extraordinary efforts” to deal with snowfall and its aftermath and gave special thanks to those working under the leadership of Dennis Rovetto, Plant Services director; Kappy Brun, Grounds supervisor; Tom Parrish, Custodial Services director, and Eric Slocum, Heavy Equipment supervisor. |
Is the next snow storm just around the corner? No matter when snow falls on the WSU Pullman campus, WSU Facilities Operations works to be prepared.
“Our staff does an amazing job of maintaining safe access in and around our campus during the winter months,” said Pamela Hilliard, FacOps Facilities Support Services executive director.
“Although impacts of the budget reductions are noticeable and there are areas that are definitely not accessible, FacOps and Residence Life crews work hard to keep ahead of every storm and keep the main arterials and walkways open and passable,” she said.
“We would love to provide a snow- and ice-free environment for all our students, staff and faculty, but winters on the Palouse have not cooperated with that plan,” said Hilliard. “We ask for patience and that everyone uses caution when deciding when and where to travel on campus this winter.”
Hilliard said the FacOps website has detailed information about its plans for dealing with the snow in the winter of 2009-2010. See the links below. Check the FacOps
website
for updated information through the winter months as needed.
Snow Removal Policy
– FacOps policy regarding snow removal at WSU.
Snow Plow Routes
– Review snow plow routes for 2009.
Hand Removal of Snow
– Check which areas receive hand removal of snow.
No-Snow-Removal Areas
– Approved for no snow removal.
If you have questions, concerns or suggestions about FacOps’ snow policy, please contact Pam Hilliard, FacOps Facilities Support Services executive director, 335-9301 or
pamh@wsu.edu
, or Dennis Rovetto, FacOps Plant Services director, 335-9087 or
rovetto@wsu.edu
.
Overview of snow removal on campus
Snow removal on the Pullman campus is provided primarily by Facilities Operations, with Residence Life maintaining areas around student housing, according to Pamela Hilliard, WSU FacOps Facilities Support Services executive director.
“Every year, preparations are made well in advance of the first snow in order to address the intricacies of maintaining access to campus for both emergency responders and also for our students, staff and faculty,” she said.
“Although Facilities Operations is not able to maintain a snow- and ice-free campus, the staff responsible for snow removal works tirelessly day and night to address the most critical areas of campus and ensure emergency access.”
Snow-removal priorities are based upon emergency access to main arterials. Sidewalks, ramps and stairways are cleared according to high usage and handicap access.
Crews begin removing snow at 5 a.m. after an evening storm, with snow removal on the streets lasting until midnight during the work week, said Hilliard. For sidewalks, snow removal begins at 5 a.m. and is maintained until 5 p.m. as necessary. Snow removal in parking lots can only be accomplished after hours and is done following higher-priority areas, she said.
In most cases, snow removal is not provided after hours or on weekends unless special events are taking place on campus.
With continuing budget cuts in recent years, FacOps has implemented no-snow-maintenance areas where select walkways, sidewalks and stairs are signed as having no snow removal, Hilliard said. In most cases, alternate-access routes are available although they may not be the most direct routes that users are familiar with. FacOps’
website
has a detailed list of those areas that will not be maintained.
“While staff will continue to provide the best possible service, there are things users of our streets and sidewalks can do to help themselves,” Hilliard said. “Use sound judgment and caution when traveling during and immediately after a snowfall and frigid temperatures. Proper footwear, tires and patience will afford you a much better opportunity to navigate campus safely and efficiently.”
She praised FacOps teamwork for “extraordinary efforts” to deal with snowfall and its aftermath and gave special thanks to those working under the leadership of Dennis Rovetto, Plant Services director; Kappy Brun, Grounds supervisor; Tom Parrish, Custodial Services director, and Eric Slocum, Heavy Equipment supervisor.
