CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio — As the temps dip this week and the snow flies across North Main Street — the Chagrin Falls Service Department will use new equipment to clear the white stuff.
This past year the village service department acquired a new mid-size hook-lift truck with a plow and spreader to clear the village’s streets and parking lots.
In total, Chagrin Falls has three full-size trucks, three mid-size trucks, three pick-up trucks, and two small tractors to clear snow from the village’s streets and parking lots.
Additionally, the village has purchased 1200 tons of salt for the upcoming winter and 3500 gallons of saltwater brine to melt ice on streets such as Bell, W. Washington, or E. Washington.
In a village that sees a lot of foot traffic, keeping crosswalks and sidewalks clear of snow is a priority for SafeRoutes Chagrin. Approximately 17% of Chagrin Falls Intermediate School students walk to school regularly and 9% of Middle and High School School students walk to school consistently.
SafeRoutes Chagrin is encouraging residents to become “Sidewalk Superheroes” this winter and has developed a Winter Management Plan with ODOT at https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/programs/active+transportation/bike-ped-snow.
Some areas of improvements of snow removal that SafeRoutes Chagrin would like to see progress this winter: keeping crosswalks clear, addressing inconsistent sidewalk snow removal of merchants and residents, snow clearance before and after school, and plows sending snow to sidewalks and crosswalks after being shoveled by residents.