As the City of St. Louis gears up for winter, Mayor Cara Spencer has announced a comprehensive strategy to ensure that streets remain navigable even during heavy snowfall. In a recent briefing, detailed on the city's official website, an updated snow removal plan was outlined, which includes several significant improvements.
Among the changes, the city has enhanced the snow plowing fleet, adding four new trucks designed for hill routes and smaller streets, and replaced older dump trucks with models boasting better salt capacity. Moreover, the Street Department now has a revised protocol for treating and clearing the roads. Mayor Spencer emphasized the importance of preparedness, stating, "St. Louisans deserve a city government that sets clear expectations." The plan includes measures such as pretreating routes before snow events and a tiered approach to clearing main roads and intersections first, followed by side streets, as outlined by the Street Department director, as reported by the City of St. Louis.
In preparation for a potentially severe winter, the city has decided to increase its salt reserves. Following the use of 12,000 tons of salt in January, the city is currently bidding to acquire an additional 9,000 tons. This will bring the total stockpile to 15,000 tons for the upcoming season. Additionally, a pilot program is being developed to create a salt bank, allowing residents and community groups to access salt for side streets.
To encourage city employees to assist with snow removal, the city has raised on-call pay for those holding a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). During winter weather events, St. Louis will keep residents informed through social media and local news channels. The Street Department will offer online updates on snow plowing progress, salt supplies, safety guidelines, and possible road closures. Residents are asked to report all non-emergency service requests to the Citizens' Service Bureau via a 3-1-1 call, the bureau’s website, or the online request form.
