Today, City Manager Sheryl Long, along with Mayor Aftab Pureval and Department of Public Services Director Mark Riley, announced updated technology and operational enhancements that will further improve how the City responds to winter weather events.

Over the last two years, the City has made significant investments in the Department of Public Services that has allowed for additional technology, improved driver safety and operations, and improved public communications.

This year, the City is introducing the new ETCH Snowplow Tracker. Last year, the Snowplow Tracker experienced occasional outages during winter weather events and the City did not accept those results.

“This year we partnered with a new vendor to provide a more accurate, transparent view of snow removal operations and maintain accessibility throughout events,” said City Manager Sheryl Long. “You will be able to find the SnowPlow Tracker in the same place online, but it will look a little different and we expect it to hold up to the demands of our public.”

For the last year, City snowplows have been equipped with tablets to display digital plow routes. The new Snowplow Tracker works directly with upgraded vehicle GPS technology, providing more reliable tracking and a clearer picture of snowplow operations across the City.

“Basic services are the core responsibility of our City government. As winter storms come, we’re prepared with the staff, the resources, and the planning in place to keep roads and residents safe,” said Mayor Pureval.

Winter operations are a year-round effort, with preparation beginning months in advance. Crews have been working hard to make sure we're ready to respond whenever snow and ice arrive. The Fleet Services team has spent countless hours inspecting and preparing our snow equipment so that every truck is ready when it's needed.

At the same time, our drivers have been training both in the classroom and on the obstacle course to sharpen their skills and prepare for winter conditions. The City plans to have 65 drivers and trucks staffed across each shift, ready to respond when winter weather impacts our city.

"We're continuing to invest in technology that helps us make better decisions and provide better information to residents,” said DPS Director Mark Riley. “Last winter, we installed 10 roadway weather stations throughout the city, and we're adding 10 more before the start of this season. These stations provide DPS leadership with real-time information on pavement temperatures, precipitation, and road conditions, allowing us to make data-driven decisions, deploy resources more effectively, and respond more quickly as conditions change.”

As snowplows are deployed during winter weather, community members will notice a select few with unique artwork on the plows. This is part of the City’s first Paint-a-Plow project, in collaboration with Cincinnati Public Schools. The City invited one school from each of the four snow districts to design and paint a snowplow that will be out serving their neighborhoods this winter.

The participating schools are:

• Clark Montessori representing the East District
• LEAP Academy representing the West District
• Bond Hill Academy representing the North District
• School for Creative and Performing Arts representing the South District

As we head into winter, the City remains focused on keeping roads safe, maintaining mobility throughout the city, and serving our residents whenever winter weather strikes.

Click here to view the Snowplow Tracker. The Snowplow Tracker is only activated during winter weather events.

A link to video of the press conference is available here.