Kansas City's Public Works Department plans to tap into city employees to nearly double its residential snow plowing routes this winter.
Public Works officials encourage all public employees to sign up for 8 - 12 hour shifts driving pickup truck plows this winter. They'll focus exclusively on helping clear off residential roads and helping residents who might be stuck on roads.
Sean Demory with Public Works says the goal is to add 30 additional routes on top of the city's existing 37 routes. Demory says the department covers the city sufficiently already, but adding more drivers will help clear roads off more quickly.
"What people might see are more times where a second truck comes in a few minute after the first," Demory said. "If a truck nearby is done with a route and still has time on their shift, the driver may be able to slip in and clear things out a little more."
Sign ups for city employees end Friday. Demory says employees simply have to be able to drive a pickup truck and willing to work up to 12 hours at a time to qualify. Veteran plow crews with Public Works will continue to handle heavy snow removal along major roadways.
