Declaration of a Snow Emergency

Snow Emergency Routes

Public Safety officials will make the decision regarding when a snow emergency is declared for the Borough of Downingtown.  Below is a list of radio and television broadcast stations that you can listen to in order to find out when a snow emergency goes into effect, as well as when it has been lifted. Radio WCOJ          1420 AM WCHE          1520 AM KYW            1060 AM Television WCOJ            Cable Channel 21

Upon declaring snow emergency, all vehicles must be removed from the following snow emergency routes: PA Ave from Manor Ave to Route 113 Route 30 (Lancaster Avenue) Route 322 (Manor Ave to Brandywine Ave) Route 113 (West Uwchlan Avenue) Route 282 (Wallace Avenue) Viaduct Avenue Bradford Avenue Chestnut Street West Church Street West Prospect Avenue South Lloyd Avenue

Designated Staging Areas

Safety Concerns

During declared emergency snow storm conditions only, alternative parking will be provided to residents in densely populated areas, who would normally utilize curbside parking. These slots will be cleared by Borough personnel prior to declaring a snow emergency, or as soon as possible while the snow emergency is in effect.  Staging areas and properly clear dangerous and other wise difficult plowing areas. St. Anthony's Parking Lot Church Street & Prospect Avenue Bradford Avenue Parking Lot Bradford Avenue Johnsontown Parking Lot Viaduct Avenue

Please keep children away from the street and Borough equipment during snow removal operations.  Tunneling and/or playing near the street is extremely dangerous. Remove small objects from or near the street to avoid private as well as public property damage during snow removal operations. During a snow emergency, reduce the number of trips you take.  Stay home if you can!

Snow Removal Guidelines -- Driveway Clearing

• Wait to clear your driveway until after the snow has stopped and a Borough plow has made at least one pass to widen your street.
• Clear the snow along the road a distance of not less than 10 feet in the direction that the snow plow will approach your driveway.  All of the snow you shovel from this "clear area" before your driveway and from the driveway itself should be piled to the RIGHT side of your driveway.  Doing this will give the oncoming snow plows a place to dump most of the snow; therefore, all of it will not end up backing your driveway.
• Eliminate snow piles at the driveway entrance whenever possible.  High accumulations of snow will obstruct the visibility of motorists exiting driveways, and hinder the ability of on-coming motorists to see you pulling out from your own driveway.
• Do not push snow out onto the roads at anytime.   This creates hazardous driving conditions for all vehicles, is a violation of Borough codes, and can render the property owner liable for damages suffered as a result of hazarding a public right-of-way.

Road Snow Plowing Priority Schedule

The Borough's Public Works Deparrtment will plow and salt according to the road priority schedule listed below:

Priority 1A	Priority 1B	Priority II
West Uwchlan Avenue (Route 113)	Jackson Avenue
East Lancaster Avenue (Business Route 30)	Green Street (South of Lancaster Avenue)	Public Parking Facilities
West Lancaster Avenue (Business Route 30)	Prospect Avenue (between West Church & Bradford Ave)
Wallace Avenue	Mary Street (200 & 300 blocks)	Sidewalks
Brandywine Avenue (Route 322)	William Street (200 block)
Manor Avenue (Route 322)	Whelen Avenue (N. of Penn Ave.)	Priority III
Chestnut Street	Stuart Avenue            Middle Alley
Pennsylvania Avenue	Oak Alley                      Pine Alley	Secondary Roads
Lloyd Avenue (between S. Lloyd & W. Prospect)	Hunt Avenue                  Coal Alley
West Prospect Avenue (between S. Lloyd & W. Church)	Park Lane	Cul-de-sacs
West Church Street	Highland Avenue (between Stuart & Hunt)
Bradford Avenue	Downing Avenue (between Manor & PA Avenue)	Priority IV
Viaduct Avenue	Rock Raymond Road (between W. Lancaster & Coal)
Green Street (north of Lancaster Avenue)	Norwood House Road	Alleyways
King Street	Norwood Road
Whiteland Avenue

Snow and Ice Removal

The owner of every property abutting any of the ordained streets of the Borough of Downingtown is required to remove from sidewalks abutting such property all snow and ice fallen or formed within 48 hours after the end of the snowfall or formation of ice.

A police officer may issue a notice of violation, and the owner could be ordered to pay a fine to the Borough of Downingtown.

Failure to respond to a violation of notice by payment shall result in an issuance of a citation to the owner.  Such fine and costs may be in addition to any expenses and additional amounts incurred.