Street Sweeping

As part of the City’s plan to reduce pollutants from entering local waterways via the storm drain system, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) performs routine street sweeping and waste disposal. During the sweeping season of April through November, LTU deploys street sweepers every working day (weather permitting). Sweepers may also be deployed during the off season whenever temperatures are above freezing, and snow and ice accumulations would not prohibit operations.

All curbed streets are swept annually, at a minimum. Additional sweeping will occur on arterial and residential streets in high debris zones to reduce litter and pollutants from entering the storm drain system. High debris zones may include business districts, high density residential areas, or neighborhoods with dense tree canopies. Sweeping of high debris zones may be identified and prioritized by staff awareness of problem areas, citizen complaints, special events, or of a seasonal nature such as fall leaf drop or post-winter cleaning of high treatment areas.

In order to accomplish these goals, LTU operates two working shifts that service separate street types. The “night shift” works between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. focusing on arterial streets and business districts. The “day shift” works between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. focusing on residential streets, industrial areas, and trouble spots. Street sweeping is carried out when temperatures are above 32°F as the water used to mitigate airborne dust and debris cannot be effectively collected when it is frozen to the pavement. Also, heavy precipitation can limit the effectiveness of this task.

For public engagement and transparency, each sweeper is equipped with automatic vehicle location devices that record sweeping functions and locations, allowing us to share our progress on a real-time Street Sweeping Map.