Be Ready for Winter Weather (ODOT, City of Portland and TriMet give advice)

Dec. 6, 2013

Contacts:

ODOT: Don Hamilton, 503-704-7452

TriMet: Mary Fetsch, 503-962-6403

PBOT: Dylan Rivera, 503-823-3723

ODOT, the City of Portland and TriMet are ready for winter weather, urge public to be prepared

“We’re ready for winter. Are you ready?”

(December 6, 2013) The Portland area’s three major transportation agencies are prepared for snow and ice, and advised the public Friday on the best ways to prepare for winter conditions.

The Oregon Department of Transportation, the Portland Bureau of Transportation and TriMet have been coordinating their efforts and planning for winter conditions since October. Maintenance managers have met with meteorologists to discuss the weather outlook for the season. The three agencies also monitor weather conditions around the clock, check trouble spots and adjust operations as conditions warrant.

During a Friday news conference at ODOT’s Sylvan maintenance yard, Ted Miller, ODOT’s Portland area maintenance and operations manager, said motorists need to be extra careful when weather deteriorates. Plows and de-icing trucks, he said, need plenty of room to get the job done. So give them a wide berth when you see them on the road. Also, he said, motorists should keep their cars in top condition and remember that patches of ice may remain on the roads even after deicer is applied.

“We’re ready to our job and we’re confident that the public is ready to do their job as well,” Miller said. “That means driving carefully, allowing plenty of room to stop and watching out for the other guy. No one wants to be the driver who causes the fender bender that traps everyone in a traffic jam.”

Suzanne Kahn, maintenance group manager for the city’s transportation bureau, said the city applies a liquid deicer, prioritizing known hazard areas, such as bridges and overpasses and the city’s busiest streets and transit routes. People who live or work in hilly areas need to buy snow chains, practice using them and be ready to use them at any time this winter. Property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks along their homes or businesses to ensure safe passage for the public.

“We encourage people to use public transit during storm events, so people should study the bus and light rail routes where you live and know ahead of time if there’s a snow route that may be in effect,” Kahn said. “When walking and biking, it’s especially important to wear high-visibility clothing. Pedestrians should always cross at an intersection or a marked crosswalk. Bicyclists should be sure to brake early and avoid painted and steel road surfaces.”

TriMet’s Field Operations Manager Jay Jackson said that when winter weather is in the forecast, “We never close. We work around the clock to keep our buses and trains moving. Our partners at ODOT and the City are critical to keeping the roads passable for our vehicles.”

Jackson added that riders should be prepared for delays and dress warmly, as buses travel at slower speeds during a winter storm. TriMet now has more than 200 buses with automatic drop down chains to provide traction when needed at the press of a button, similar to school buses. This is in addition to regular chains that can be added to buses for traction.

Online tips for winter weather

• Oregon Department of Transportation
  • Driving Tips from ODOT: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/Pages/winterdriving.aspx
  • ODOT News Packet: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/winter/WinterStorybook_Interactive2013-2014.pdf

• Portland Bureau of Transportation
  • Snow and Ice resources: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/47307
  • Are You Prepared?: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/295492
  • Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/327886

• TriMet
  • Plan your trip online and check for service alerts: http://trimet.org/

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