Keeping Chicago’s streets clean and safe is a joint effort between the city and its residents. In the 43rd Ward, coordinated efforts ensure efficient street sweeping and other essential sanitation services. Overseen by Ward Superintendent Martin Casey, in close collaboration with Alderman Knudsen’s office, these services are designed to maintain the ward’s cleanliness and livability. Beyond street sweeping, Superintendent Casey also manages garbage collection, rodent control, recycling programs, and snow removal operations, all crucial for a healthy and functional community.
Understanding the Chicago Street Cleaning Schedule
Street sweeping is a vital service that helps keep our neighborhoods clean by removing debris and preventing it from clogging sewers and polluting waterways. To find out when your street is scheduled for cleaning, the 43rd Ward provides a comprehensive 2024 Street Sweeping Master Schedule. This document outlines the general timeframe for street sweeping across the ward.
For a more precise schedule specific to your address, you can utilize the online search tool available here. Simply enter your address to determine your next scheduled street sweeping date. Being aware of the schedule helps residents avoid parking tickets and ensures that street sweepers can effectively clean the entire street.
Chicago Snow Removal: Keeping Streets Accessible in Winter
Chicago winters can be challenging, and efficient snow removal is essential for maintaining safe and accessible streets. The Department of Streets and Sanitation prioritizes arterial streets, ensuring they are safe for travel first. Once these main roads are clear, salt trucks and plows are deployed to secondary and residential streets. Streets near hospitals and schools are given even higher priority in snow removal operations. This systematic approach ensures the city remains functional even during heavy snowfall.
To combat icy conditions in very low temperatures, the city uses road salt, sometimes enhanced with calcium chloride for better performance in the cold. Environmentally conscious de-icing solutions, including salt water and sugar beet byproducts, are also utilized. Bridges and overpasses receive pretreatment to prevent ice formation, further enhancing safety during winter.
During significant snowstorms, the city can equip 150-200 garbage trucks with quick-hitch plows to supplement the snow removal fleet. These trucks work in conjunction with salt-spreading trucks to efficiently clear snow from city streets. It’s important to note that the City of Chicago does not plow alleys.
For residents needing assistance with snow removal, especially seniors and individuals with disabilities, the Chicago Snow Corps program connects volunteers with those in need. To request a volunteer for snow shoveling, residents can call 311 or submit an online Service Request.
Winter Parking Restrictions: Avoid Tickets and Towing
To facilitate snow removal and keep critical roadways open, Chicago enforces winter parking restrictions. A Winter Overnight Parking Ban is in effect from December 1st to April 1st, between 3 am and 7 am, on 107 miles of arterial streets, regardless of snow conditions. Parking in these areas during these hours will result in a minimum $150 towing fee, a $60 ticket, and daily storage fees.
Additionally, a Snow Parking Ban can be activated on another 500 miles of main streets when there are at least two inches of snow on the ground. This ban is activated as needed, and vehicles parked in these zones during a snow event may be ticketed or relocated to allow for snow clearing operations. Paying attention to parking restrictions during winter is crucial to avoid fines and ensure smooth snow removal across the city.
By understanding the Chicago Street Cleaning Schedule and snow removal procedures, residents can contribute to a cleaner, safer, and more accessible city for everyone.
