Weather Travel Advisory: City crews preparing for possibility of snow, freezing rain
City of Portland advises public to be prepared for winter conditions
(November 12, 2014) – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the public to be prepared for the possibility of snow and freezing rain beginning tomorrow morning and continuing through the day and possibly through Friday morning, with a possible accumulation of four to six inches of snow as well as the chance of freezing rain.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public to stay apprised of the forecast and of the potential for rapidly changing conditions, use caution while traveling, delay trips if possible, and consider taking public transit.
Transportation maintenance operations crews are preparing for the severe weather forecast for the region by applying a liquid anti-icer on bridges and overpasses today. Crews will apply anti-icer overnight on routes in the West Hills, along Marine Drive, Sam Jackson Road, and Mt. Scott Boulevard.
Deicing can prevent slick conditions but is no substitute for caution while traveling. Crews will also patrol high-elevation areas and will continue to assess road conditions in real time.
In the event of snow tomorrow, the City will focus limited resources on plowing and treating the highest priority transportation corridors – bridges, overpasses, major streets that serve transit and emergency response vehicles, and critical intersections. Crews do not plow neighborhood streets.
The public is advised to prepare for snow and ice, and be aware that conditions from a single storm can vary throughout the region because of the area’s unique weather patterns and geography.
Safety tips:
- Please take transit when possible
- If you must drive, consider delaying your trip until road conditions are better.
- Give yourself extra time to get to your destination.
- Drive or bike slowly. Steer and turn slowly. Brake gently. Stay off the brake on ice.
- Be alert for pedestrians and bicyclists who also are traveling on slick, wet surfaces.
- Carry an emergency kit.
A chain-up area on West Burnside near 24th Avenue will be activated. The city urges motorists not to abandon vehicles in a travel lane, an occurrence that has happened in previous storms. Abandoned vehicles block traffic and impede emergency vehicles and public transit. The city is also stepping up parking enforcement at that location. Any abandoned vehicle is subject to being cited and towed.
In the event of snow, the Transportation Bureau will cancel its Leaf Day operations for Thursday in the Mock Crest neighborhood (N3) and adjust residents’ bills accordingly. That area is scheduled for a second leaf day pickup on December 9, 2014.
The transportation bureau posts updates at its twitter feed, @PBOTinfo and offers a variety of safety tips on its web site portlandoregon.gov/transportation and on PublicAlerts.org
Additional online weather tips are:
PublicAlerts.org - One-stop clearinghouse for alerts and weather information
Portland Bureau of Transportation
Snow and Ice resources https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/47307
Are You Prepared? https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/295492
Frequently Asked Questions https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/327886
TriMet
Plan your trip online and check for service alerts
Oregon Department of Transportation
Driving Tips from ODOT http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/Pages/winterdriving.aspx