Three alders from the downtown area
proposed a program Thursday that would help clear snow more quickly
and effectively after heavy storms.
The plan, called "Snow Action Days,"
was formulated in response to suggestions from constituents.
"I’ve gotten a decent amount of
contacts from my district that were not only saying that it's been
tough, but also offering ideas," Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, District
12, said.
Rhodes-Conway, along with Ald. Marsha
Rummel, District 6, and Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, have put
together a plan at the request and aid of their constituents to help
ease the burden of Madison residents during heavy snowfall. "Snow
Action Days," they said, would coincide with the currently
implemented Snow Emergencies.
"I think for us, this is probably one
of the worst snow cleanup efforts we’ve seen in a long time, the
downtown area in particular," Konkel said. "People are relying on
us to have good, clean streets to get to work in the morning."
The snow removal service provided by
the city, especially the downtown area where many students reside, is
only at a base-level and needs to be upgraded so that snow is
effectively and promptly removed, according to the alders.
"The Streets Department works really
hard and has a monumental job, especially with the kind of snow we’ve
been getting recently," Rhodes-Conway said. "However, this is
people’s daily lives, getting to work on time and getting their kids
to school. Most people rely on automobiles, and if you can’t get down
your street or get your car out of the driveway, there’s a big
problem. We might be able to do a better job at this."
According to Konkel, the biggest
changes they would like to see include making the downtown city ramps
available starting at 9 p.m. instead of 1 a.m. Another important
factor is getting the bus routes clear of snow and making the Madison
Metro free in order to reduce the number of cars on the streets.
"There also has to be a better way of
getting out the word about snow emergency," Konkel said. "Some of
the more traditional ways don’t work for a lot of people who live
downtown. There are more options with the technology we have
available."
Having more effective ways of
communicating snow emergencies, such as using text messaging and
neighborhood mass e-mail lists, is key for many students and
residents who do not use traditional news sources such as AM radio
and newspapers, according to Konkel.
Other suggestions for effective snow
policies include acquiring smaller plows, adding more sand
distribution points for residents and increasing the amount of fines
for parking tickets during snow emergencies.
"We don't have something to
introduce to the City Council at the next meeting, but we want to
start the conversation with the mayor, Streets Department, and, most
importantly, the citizens," Rhodes-Conway said. "I’m looking
forward to having that conversation so we can come up with a
conclusion."