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Albany

When heavy snowfall hits the Capital Region, Albany crews are focused on keeping the main roads passable.

But some city residents took to social media Sunday, questioning where the plows were – alleging they hadn't seen many trucks during the weekend storm that dropped about 8 inches of snow in Albany.

Van Zandt resident Chris Jablon, 38, said he hardly saw plows, and one emergency vehicle got stuck on the street.

"Why the lack of city cleanup?" he said in a Facebook post. "I live on Van Zandt which runs into the parking garage OGS owns and nothing. Roads are bad."

Another Delaware Avenue resident reported not seeing a plow all day.

Albany's Department of General Services is responsible for maintaining 670 city streets, which crews tackled Sunday with 30 trucks.

When snow falls rapidly, crews focus on main and secondary roads, Daniel Mirabile, commissioner of the city's Department of General Services, said. Snow fell Sunday at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour at times.

"The main roads are definitely a priority. As you can see with the 30 trucks we have, there is no way you can possibly cover 670 streets in the middle of a storm," he said.

This doesn't mean roads will be clear of snow, but they will be passable. During heavy snowfall, less salt is used due to the amount of snow. Once a storm ends, Mirabile said crews can begin "pushing back" the snow and treating the roads with salt.

"It's standard public works plowing principal to, in the middle of a storm, just plow your lane. Once it lets up, then you push back," he said. "There is no possible way to keep up with it when it comes down at 1½ inches an hour."

It's also important for drivers to stay off roads to give plows better access, Mirabile said.

With the latest storm in the rearview mirror, Albany issued a snow emergency to remove snow to the curbs. During the first 24 hours, all vehicles must be parked on the even-numbered side of the street until 8 p.m. Tuesday. After 8 p.m., cars must be parked on the odd-numbered side of the street or risk being ticketed and towed.

Last week, roughly 250 cars were ticketed and towed during a two-day snow emergency.

"We try and do everything we can to get people to move their cars – use sirens and knock on doors," Mirabile said, but noncompliance will get cars towed. "The more cooperation we have from residents ... that will make our job easier. We can move a lot quicker."

afries@timesunion.com • 518-454-5353 • @mandy_fries

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