ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 7, 1996 TAG: 9602070056
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
NOTE: Below
Elsie Nichols was taken aback by snow-packed streets in downtown Roanoke when she came to work Monday morning. The intersection at Jefferson Street and Franklin Road was a mess, she said.
"Downtown streets were horrible. I don't think they were any better than they were during the storm last month," Nichols said Tuesday.
Nichols, a secretary who wrote a letter to the editor complaining about the city's snow-removal efforts after January's storm, said she didn't understand why the downtown streets were in such bad shape.
Ed Nicholson, a stockbroker who gives the city high marks for snow removal during both storms, agreed that it was harder to get around downtown on Monday than in some neighborhoods.
"I think the city did a better job this time, but I couldn't believe how much snow there was in downtown," Nicholson said.
Mayor David Bowers acknowledged Tuesday that he had received complaints about downtown, too. But he believes the city's new snow-removal plan - which gives priority to primary roads - worked well and reduced complaints overall.
During the weekend, the city's snowplow operators concentrated on primary roads and neighborhood streets, hoping to get back downtown by Sunday night or early Monday, Bowers said.
But by the time crews were ready to move back into downtown, the temperature was so cold that chemicals wouldn't melt the ice and plows couldn't scrape the snow-packed pavement, Bowers said.
Robert Lawson, president of Downtown Roanoke Inc., said downtown traffic conditions were just as bad during the latest storm as last month because of subfreezing temperatures.
But Lawson said he doesn't have enough information to know whether the city "made a heroic effort or had a lack of effort" downtown.
The city moved in more crews Tuesday to clean up downtown streets.
Michelle Bono, city public information officer, said 309 dump truck loads of snow have been hauled out of downtown since the weekend.
After the January storm, many residents complained that primary roads were noticeably worse just inside the city limits than in surrounding jurisdictions.
Instead of dispatching snowplows to all parts of the city when the latest storm began, officials instructed crews to make sure primary roads were in good shape before moving into neighborhoods.
Bono said there were many fewer complaints about snow removal during the latest storm.
Public Works Director William Clark said he thinks the new plan worked, although he added that it's hard to compare the two storms because there was twice as much snow last month.
"It took us longer to get the neighborhoods, but I think the people expected that," Clark said.
Anthony Stavola, president of the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League, said the primary roads were in better shape this time.
"By and large, I think they did a pretty good job. Within 48 hours, the main roads were passable and they had gotten into neighborhoods at least one time," Stavola said.
Vice Mayor William White said the new approach seemed to satisfy more residents. "From my observation, it seemed to work better, and I received no complaints."
"I think people are more aware now of the magnitude of the job that the city faces in clearing the streets," Councilman John Parrott said. "With the exception of one person, everybody I've heard from has had something positive to say, even though we had less snow this time."
Not everyone is happy, however.
Jim Masker, who wrote a letter to the editor last month blasting the city's snow-removal efforts, said Tuesday that nothing was different this time.
"I'm ready to write another letter. It's disgusting," he said. "There is no excuse for kids not being in school on a day like this."
Roanoke needs to send some of its workers to a snow-removal seminar in a Northern city to learn how to do the job, Masker said.
Valley Metro, which has been running on snow routes since last Friday, will check street conditions this morning before deciding whether to go back to its regular routes.
Some riders have complained that Valley Metro has not publicized its snow routes adequately or informed the public about its schedules during the recent storms.
Assistant General Manager Kathy Weikel said the bus company contacts radio and television stations and newspapers during storms. "It is up to them to broadcast the information," she said.
Some riders also have complained that they have been given inaccurate information on routes and schedules. Weikel said Valley Metro has many first-time riders during storms, and they don't always understand information about routes or know what to ask.
Meanwhile, traffic near Williamson and Florist roads will be delayed again today as a contractor repairs a 36-inch water main. Repairs are expected to be finished by late today.
LENGTH: Medium: 92 linesby CNB