Winter Operations FAQs and Educational Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I submit an UPLNK winter storm service request?

During winter storms when residential plowing occurs, residents may do the following:

  1. Watch — Watch for the storm to end. Crews are better able to respond to resident service requests after a storm has passed and arterial and emergency streets have been serviced.
  2. Review — Review the Residential Plowing Tracker to monitor snowplowing progress. Please pause requests unless your service area is shaded in dark green, which means it has been serviced, inspected and approved. If your service area is not shaded in dark green, crews are still plowing and may solve your issue soon.
  3. Request — Make a service request. Please submit requests to UPLNK.lincoln.ne.gov if your service area is shaded in dark green but requires additional attention.

For a look at plowing progress on main streets, emergency, school and bus routes, review the Snowplow Tracker during medium to larger winter storms.

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Lincoln Transportation and Utilities works hard to maintain Lincoln’s 2,600 lane miles of streets during winter storms. That’s enough lane miles to drive to Times Square in New York City and back. If you’d like to submit a positive message or thank you to Lincoln’s snowfighters, submit your message at UPLNK.lincoln.ne.gov after the winter storm has stopped.

What are the priorities for applying treatment and plowing streets?

  1. Emergency snow routes and arterial streets
  2. Remaining arterial streets and school and bus routes
  3. Residential streets (if deemed necessary)

How can I get help shoveling my property?

See the Snow Angels Volunteer Program for more information.

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The Transportation and Utilities Department’s Snow Angels program links volunteers willing to shovel snow with residents who need the service. Any individual or organization wishing to volunteer for snow removal as part of the Snow Angels program may sign up on the Snow Angels page. Those who need the help can find volunteers near their home online or by calling Transportation and Utilities Maintenance Operations at 402-441-7701 during regular business hours. Due to limited staffing, those needing assistance are asked to wait until after it has snowed to call for assistance.

How much do drivers pay for snow removal per year?

Lincoln drivers pay $7.85 per year for street snow removal. This is paid through drivers’ Wheel Tax (Street Improvement Vehicle Tax).

How much does it cost for one snow vehicle to plow for one hour?

It costs $148 per hour for a single City snow vehicle to operate for one hour.

How much does it cost to plow residential streets per snowstorm?

Plowing residential streets costs between $375,000 to $600,000 depending on the severity of the snowstorm.

What tools are available for LTU to use to combat snow and ice?

Brine, rock salt, snowplows, and 13 pavement sensors. Sand is used for trouble spots only.

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Brine

Anti-icing liquid, also known as brine, is put on streets before the winter storm to help prevent snow/ice from freezing to the road. This helps minimize snowpack, making it easier for snowplows to peel the snow from the street.

Will brine or salt hurt my car?

Brine which includes beet juice, leaves thin lines of residue on the streets. Testing has shown brine rinses off clothing and vehicles with water.

Salt causes corrosion, and both the brine and granular material that are spread on the streets have very high concentrations of salt. But the City’s increased use of brine will allow the salt to have greater effect, resulting in an estimated 25-percent reduction in total salt use throughout the winter season. In any case, it’s a good idea to wash your vehicle on a regular basis during winter months.

Rock Salt

De-icing tool that helps breaks down snow/ice frozen to the road.

Snowplows

Clear away snow/ice after being broken down by rock salt.

Sand

Sand is only used on trouble spots. Sand increases traction for approximately three vehicle passes.

Street Technology

The City has increased the number of pavement sensors from seven to 13. This technology analyzes surface temperature, ambient air temperature and humidity.

Why haven’t I seen any snow trucks yet?

Go to lincoln.ne.gov/snowfighting to see where City snow trucks have been.

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A detailed plan is created for every snow/ice event in Lincoln through thorough weather forecasting, data review, sight review and discussion. You can see where City plows have been during each winter event by going to lincoln.ne.gov/snowfighting.

Why did a snow truck go by with the blade up?

Three reasons: The City truck was laying material on the street, the operator was called to help with a specific area, the operator needs to refuel/reload material.

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The City previously used separate sanders and plows, but the current fleet consists mainly of combination sander/plows. If two of these units are working in tandem, the first one plows and the second one may only be applying material. This operates with its blades up.

The sander/plows can travel much faster with their blades up. Operators may travel this way for several reasons:

  • The operator may be headed to a specific area or an accident or other incident where help is needed quickly.
  • The operators may be going back to the shop for fuel, repairs, and/or reloading of material. If they took the extra time to travel with blades down, the districts to which they are assigned would see a delay in their service.
  • The operator may be headed to the next assigned location, following plows that have already cleared the route.
Equipment Questions

If a resident has a question about a specific piece of equipment or location, they can contact Transportation and Utilities Maintenance Operations at 402-441-7701.

Residential Street Plowing: Everything You Need to Know

For some winter storms, private contractors will plow residential streets while LTU crews simultaneously treat/plow the main streets.

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Depth Guide

The City does not use a depth guide to initiate residential street plowing. The City collects data, uses street sensors to monitor the temperature of the roads, and conducts weather forecasting to make data-driven decisions on when and where to initiate plowing. This means different parts of Lincoln may or may not see plows at different times in order to operate and clear snow from streets as efficiently as possible.

Residential Street Data Use

LTU monitors snowfall recordings throughout the City. Crews will use data to determine when and which streets need plowed. Some streets in one neighborhood may not need plows and other streets may.

Other factors to consider include:
  • Duration of the snow event;
  • Rate of snowfall (and how quickly an event ends);
  • Temperature before, during and after an event;
  • Next 24- to 48-hour forecast to determine how quickly snow might melt;
  • To what extent residential streets already have compacted snow and may not be removable by plow;
  • Availability of space to store plowed snow on the streets;
  • Potential for melting and refreeze, causing ice dams on residential streets; and frequency of weather events and cumulative street impacts.
If my street is not plowed, can I call to request plowing or de-icing service?

During winter storms when residential plowing occurs, residents may do the following:

  1. Watch — Watch for the storm to end. Crews are better able to respond to resident service requests after a storm has passed and arterial and emergency streets have been serviced.
  2. Review — Review the Residential Plowing Tracker to monitor snowplowing progress. Please pause requests unless your service area is shaded in dark green, which means it has been serviced, inspected and approved. If your service area is not shaded in dark green, crews are still plowing and may solve your issue soon.
  3. Request — Make a service request. Please submit requests to UPLNK.lincoln.ne.gov if your service area is shaded in dark green but requires additional attention.

For a look at plowing progress on main streets, emergency, school and bus routes, review the Snowplow Tracker during winter storms.

Lincoln Transportation and Utilities works hard to maintain Lincoln’s 2,600 lane miles of streets during winter storms. That’s enough lane miles to drive to Times Square in New York City and back. If you’d like to submit a positive message or thank you to Lincoln’s snowfighters, submit your message at UPLNK.lincoln.ne.gov after the winter storm has stopped.

Why does snow pile up at the end of my driveway when City crews plow my street?

This is an unintended consequence related to the amount of snow received and the safest and most effective way to clear residential streets. Operators clear from the center of the street out to the curb, leaving a windrow of snow in the gutter. This is the best place for snow to melt and helps prevent refreezing in the middle of the street where vehicles are most likely to drive. The more snowfall, the higher the windrow. To assist in avoiding this situation, Lincoln Transportation and Utilities recommends scooping up to 10 feet to the left and up to 10 feet to the right of your driveway entrance. This will offer a place for extra snow to go instead of leaving a windrow in front of your driveway.

Video: How to Prevent Snow in Driveway During Street Plowing (:37)

What can I do if my mailbox is hit by a snowplow or if my sod or sprinklers are torn up?

Lincoln Transportation and Utilities understands that events like this can be frustrating for homeowners as snowplow crews work day and night to clear city streets of snow and ice and keep people safe through winter storms.

The public right of way, including the area between the street and sidewalk, is owned by the City. Property owners are allowed to place objects, such as mailboxes, sprinkler systems, landscaping and driveways, in the public right of way.

Property owners are responsible for maintenance, replacement or any damages to the objects on City property caused by, but not limited to snow removal, streets sweeping or other City activities. Those with questions can contact the City Law Department at 402-441-7281.

Cars are parked on both sides of my street, and I can’t get my car through. What should I do?

Call 402-441-6000 to report a street blockage outside of the downtown area (402-441-PARK in downtown area).

Enforcement

Vehicles parked in a way that does not allow other vehicles to pass may be ticketed for obstructing a public street at any time of the year. This situation is not only inconvenient but could be a safety hazard if emergency vehicles are unable to reach their locations.

Parking Guidelines

With heavy and prolonged snow, LTU is sometimes unable to clear the street to the curb because of the depth and volume of the snow. A vehicle should not be parked in a way that interferes with the use of the street.

How soon after a snowstorm do I need to have my sidewalk cleared?

City ordinance requires property owners to clear snow and ice from sidewalks by 9 a.m. the day following the end of the snowstorm.

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Sidewalks must be kept clear of snow and ice during the day. The entire width of the walk must be cleared, along with any adjoining wheelchair ramps or curb cuts. Residents also are asked to clear snow from any fire hydrants.

Can you enforce people to clear their sidewalks?

It is illegal to push or blow snow into or on any street, alley or sidewalk. The Lincoln Police Department enforces this ordinance; however, they must witness the action as it is occurring in order to issue any enforcement.

City Ordinance

If a property owner does not clear the walk and a complaint is received by the City sidewalk office, notice will be given to the owner. City ordinance requires written notice to be left on the front door or other conspicuous place on the property. If an unresolved problem is reported again, the City may hire a snow removal contractor, and the owner is responsible for the charges.

Questions

Questions can be directed to the LTU sidewalk office at 402-441-7541.

I’m unable to clear my sidewalk and driveway myself. What should I do?

Arrange for a family member, neighbor or contractor to clear the snow for you. The Snow Angels Volunteer Program is also an option.

How many streets do City plows clear?

City snowplows clear more than 2,600 lane miles of streets in Lincoln.

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Emergency snow routes, arterial streets, school and bus routes cover more than 1,200 lane miles. Residential streets add over another 1,400 lane miles. Combined, this is equivalent to driving from Lincoln to New York City and back. That is a lot of lane miles!

How many bridges do we maintain?

Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) maintains 150 bridge-sized structures throughout the year, of which 62 are bridges and 88 are box culverts and/or culvert pipes.

Why do bike trails get cleared of snow before many streets?

The removal of snow from City bike trails is the responsibility of the City of Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department. City of Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department staff understand that many residents use the trails system to get to and from work and make it a priority to ensure the trails are safe for users throughout the year. Many times, City trails are cleared of snow before Lincoln’s streets due to there being fewer miles of bike trails to clear. Both bike trails and streets are an important part of the City’s overall transportation network. There are more than 134 miles of bike trails in the city and more than 2,600 lane miles of streets.

How do I know if there is a parking ban?

The City uses the following methods to inform the public of winter operations:

  1. Local news media sources
  2. The City website – lincoln.ne.gov/snow
  3. Email alerts/RSS feed
  4. X – follow LTU at twitter.com/ltulnk
  5. Facebook – Follow LTU at facebook.com/LTULINCOLN
  6. Time Warner Cable government access channels 5 and 10

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Residents also may contact Transportation and Utilities Maintenance Operations at 402-441-7701 to find out about parking bans.

If you know someone who does not speak English, contact City Communications at 402-441-7831 for the current list of local agencies providing information in other languages.

Where can I park during Parking Bans?

If snow-related parking bans are in effect, there may be certain restrictions. See More Info below for details.

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Snow Emergency Parking Ban

In a snow emergency, parking may be banned on both sides of emergency snow routes, arterial streets, school routes and City bus routes. Along non-arterial streets, bus routes are marked with signs.

Snow Removal Districts Parking Ban

When a snow emergency is declared, parking may be prohibited on both sides of the street in areas designated as snow removal districts. In these areas, the snow is plowed into windrows, loaded into trucks and hauled out of the area. Typically, snow removal occurs between midnight and 8 a.m. The districts include streets in the following areas:

Free Downtown Parking Options

During snow removal district parking bans, free downtown parking will be available from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. at Center Park Garage, 1100 “N” St. The customer will be charged for any time beyond the nine hours at the posted garage rate. If the vehicle remains in the facility past 10 a.m., the customer will be charged for the entire time the vehicle was in the facility.

Residential Parking Ban

A residential parking ban applies to streets that are not emergency snow routes, arterials, school or bus routes, or are included in a snow removal district. If residential parking bans are required, parking will be banned on only one side of the street, and the sides will not switch as they have in previous years. During residential bans, parking on even-numbered sides of the street will be banned in even-numbered years like 2024. Parking on odd-numbered sides of the street will be banned in odd-numbered years like 2025.

How long are parking bans in effect?

All bans are in effect until terminated. Vehicles parked illegally during parking bans are subject to fines, towing and storage costs at the owners’ expense.

Lots and Facilities Available for Parking Once Cleared of Snow
Southeast
  • Antelope Park, North and South of Auld, Children’s Zoo (Capitol Parkway and “A” Streets)
  • Eden Park (45th and Antelope Creek Rd.)
  • Holmes Lake Park roads and lots – north side only (70th and Normal)
  • Roberts Park (56th and Normal)
  • Tierra Park (27th and Tierra)
Southwest
  • Peterson Park (4400 Southwood)
  • Van Dorn Park (9th and Van Dorn)
Northeast
  • Ballard Park (66th and Kearney)
  • Bethany Park – 3 lots (65th and Vine)
  • Easterday Recreation Center (6130 Adams)
  • Mahoney Golf Course lot (7900 Adams)
  • Peter Pan Park (32nd and “W”)
  • University Place Park, north and 1/2 south lot (49th and Garland)
  • UPCO Park (40th and Adams)
  • Woods Park – 2 lots (33rd and “J”)
Northwest
  • Air Park Community Center (4900 Mike Scholl)
  • Belmont Park and Recreation Center (12th and Judson)
  • Belmont Pool (1245 Manatt)
  • Highlands Golf Course (5501 NW 12th)
  • Oak Lake, east and west lots (1st and Charleston)
  • Roper Park, east and west lots (10th and Belmont)

Citizens can also contact the nearest library or church to find out if any additional temporary parking facilities are available.

How does the Lincoln Police Department handle emergency parking bans and snow removal districts parking bans?

The streets must remain clear in case of emergencies. Lincoln Police Department and Park & Go promptly investigate parking violations after emergency and district parking bans go into effect. Vehicles in violation may be towed at the owner’s expense. Make a parking plan now for when a parking ban goes into effect.

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The City of Lincoln works hard to inform the public when a parking ban is in effect. The City informs the media, posts announcements on the City website, utilizes social media, and offers all citizens the opportunity to sign up for direct email notifications for snow-related information at no charge at lincoln.ne.gov/snow. When a parking ban is violated on an emergency snow route or during a district parking ban, the street cannot be cleared effectively. This in turn, can limit emergency vehicle access and slow down emergency response times. Lincoln Police Department promptly investigates parking violations after emergency and district parking bans go into effect. Officers make an effort to contact the owner of the vehicle before it is towed. Vehicles that remain in violation will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Park and Go investigates parking violations after emergency and district parking bans go into effect. Park and Go does not contact vehicle owners at risk of being towed. Vehicles in violation are towed at the owner’s expense.

The City encourages everyone to create a plan of action and think through where they will park when a parking ban goes into effect this season. Resources are available for residents who live in the downtown area. Go to lincoln.ne.gov/snow for more information.

How does the Lincoln Police Department handle residential parking bans?

When a residential parking ban is not followed, snowplows are too large in many areas of town to efficiently and safely plow the residential street. This in turn, can limit emergency vehicle access to that neighborhood street and slow down emergency response times. The Lincoln Police Department makes an effort to contact vehicle owners before the vehicle is towed. If a vehicle owner does not move their vehicle, the vehicle is then towed. Make a parking plan now for when a parking ban goes into effect.

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The City of Lincoln works hard to inform the public when a parking ban is in effect. The City informs the media, posts announcements on the City website, utilizes social media, and offers all citizens the opportunity to sign up for direct email notifications for snow-related information at no charge at lincoln.ne.gov/snow. When a residential parking ban is not followed, snowplows are too large in many areas of town to efficiently and safely plow the residential street. This in turn, can limit emergency vehicle access to that neighborhood street and slow down emergency response times. The Lincoln Police Department makes an effort to contact vehicle owners before the vehicle is towed. If a vehicle owner does not move their vehicle, the vehicle is then towed. The Lincoln Police Department tries to be as understanding as possible but must put safety first during these situations. The City encourages everyone to create a plan of action and think through where they will park when a parking ban goes into effect this season. Resources are available for residents who live in the downtown area. Go to lincoln.ne.gov/snow for more information.

How was the Winter Operations Plan created?

The Winter Operations Plan(PDF, 3MB) was developed with citizen input through the citywide Taking Charge survey, citizen taskforces and the City Council involvement through the budgeting process. All of these efforts weigh the costs and benefits of expanded service. The plan is updated annually.