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1. Who maintains my road?

South Fayette Township contains roadways that are owned and / or maintained by three separate political entities:

• South Fayette owns and maintains more than 70 miles of local roadways, plus maintains 15 miles of state roads through contractual agreements
• Allegheny County maintains the roads that it owns
• State-owned roads are maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) or by South Fayette

State-Owned Roads Maintained by PennDOT

• State Route 50, from the intersection of Washington Pike to the Cecil / Washington County line
• Washington Pike, from Bridgeville to the Cecil / Washington County line
• Boyce Road, from Washington Pike to the Upper St. Clair line
• Mayview Road, from the Upper St. Clair line to the Cecil line
• Route 978 / Union Avenue, from the top of Route 978 (Battle Ridge Road) to the Oakdale / Washington County line
• Robinson Run Road, from the intersection of Route 978 (Battle Ridge Road) to the McDonald line
• Presto-Sygan Road, from the intersection with Millers Run Road to the intersection with Thoms Run Road

State-Owned Roads Maintained by South Fayette Township Public Works

• Oakridge Road, from the intersection with Presto-Sygan Road to the intersection with Battle Ridge Road
• Thoms Run Road, from the intersection with Dutch Hill Road to the intersection of Millers Run Road and Route 978 / Battle Ridge Road
• Millers Run Road (East), from the intersection with Route 50 to the intersection with Route 978 / Battle Ridge Road
• Millers Run Road (West / Gladden area), from the intersection with Route 978 to the Cecil / Washington County line

County-Owned Roads Maintained by Allegheny County

• Thoms Run Road, from Federal Hill to the intersection of Dutch Hill Road

Township Roads Owned and Maintained by South Fayette Township Public Works

• All township-owned streets, alleys, and roadways

If there is any question as to who maintains your street, please contact the township office or the public works department.

2. How can I help during snow plowing?

Let’s work together to ensure a safe, successful snow removal season! When snow is on the roads, please:

• Do not park on roads or culs-de-sac.
• Ensure your mailbox does not extend over the edge of the road.
• Shovel your driveway AFTER the snow plow clears your road.
• Do not shovel your snow into the road.
• Remove portable basketball hoops or other equipment that is blocking the road or hanging into the road.
• Clear a 3-foot diameter around fire hydrants, and shovel a path between the hydrant and street.

3. What if I experience a problem during winter maintenance?

You can report a road snow or ice issue through our 24-hour Citizen Request Tracker webpage.

Or call the township office at 412-221-8700 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Tell us your name, phone number, address and nature of your problem. After 4:30 p.m., emergencies only may be reported to the police department by calling 9-1-1.

If you have any questions or concerns about snow removal, please contact Public Works Director Butch Truitt at 412-221-8700, ext. 223, or via email.

Report road concern

4. How many workers and trucks are involved in winter maintenance?

During winter maintenance, the department operates up to 14 trucks.

Depending on the time, duration, and intensity of the storm, the department will have anywhere from 3 to 16 employees on the roads.

5. Who determines when winter maintenance / snow plowing is needed?

On-call township staff determine when conditions warrant winter maintenance. Many factors are taken into account when making this determination, such as:

• Type of storm. Wet snow, fluffy snow, ice?
• Day of the week. Is it a work day? A weekend? A holiday? A school day?
• Hour of the day. Is it before morning rush hour or evening rush hour? Is it in the middle of the night?
• Expected severity of the storm. Quantity of snow expected? Duration expected?
• Availability of resources.
• Union contract requirements.
• Budgetary limitations.

6. How do winter operations work?

South Fayette Township is divided into 13 routes, and each route is subdivided into primary and secondary routes.

Once notified of a storm emergency, the public works director or foreman determines the number of workers needed and notifies the available employees, and then distributes the required routes.

Workers first clear and treat their assigned primary routes. After all primary routes are completed and passable, they proceed to their secondary routes. When drivers finish their assigned routes, they are dispatched to help with other routes. Primary routes sometimes require several trips before secondary routes can be started.

7. What is the difference between a primary and secondary snow route?

Primary routes are the main roadways in the township, including all school bus routes, roads required for emergency vehicle access, and any street leading to a health care facility. Main-entrance roadways leading from developments also are designated as primary routes.

Secondary routes are side streets and cul-de-sacs in residential developments, along with sparsely populated residential streets and less traveled country roads.

Public Works regards all roads in the township as equally important but prioritizes primary routes.

8. What are we doing to the reduce cost and increase the effectiveness of our winter maintenance program?

The most efficient methods of reducing winter maintenance costs are reducing the amount of salt and anti-skid materials we use and decreasing the number of hours employees spend treating roads, while maintaining public safety.

Wetting Systems Public Works uses 2 wetting systems for our fleet of snow-fighting equipment. These units spray the salt with salt brine while it is being dispensed onto the roadway. The salt brine reduces the amount of splatter of the salt, thus keeping more of the product on the area where it is needed. The salt brine also increases the melting time of the salt, thus quickening the time it takes to melt the snow and ice.

Salt Brine / Anti-Icing The department also applies salt brine to the roadways in advance of expected winter storms. This anti-icing method has several advantages:

• Application during better, pre-storm weather conditions
• Easier, quicker removal of snow and ice
• Increased road safety in a shorter amount of time
• Reduction of chemical use by 50% to 80%
• Application during normal work hours, thus reducing overtime cost

9. How does Public Works prepare for winter maintenance?

Winter operations occur year-round. Each season requires different tasks to be completed to achieve successful winter maintenance.

Spring

• Hold post-winter meeting
• Solicit public feedback
• Organize winter data
• Perform spring cleanup
• Conduct road field inspections
• Develop comprehensive snow plan of action

Summer

• Start to implement action plan
• Plan drainage work to eliminate ice problems
• Complete equipment and material storage building repairs
• Complete obstruction removal (lower manholes)
• Remedy action-prone areas
• Prepare bids and specifications for equipment and materials

Fall (Early)

• Place first order for salt and anti-skid materials
• Finalize snow agreement with neighbors
• Update snow map

Fall (Late)

• Inspect, prepare, and calibrate winter equipment
• Conduct employee winter training
• Discuss any new procedures with union
• Meet with school district officials
• Conduct dry runs of all snow routes

Winter

• Be prepared for 1st storm
• Conduct operational review during storm
• Review operations after the storm
• Complete and review all winter documentation (CDL checklist, CDL requirements, run sheets)