BALTIMORE, MD (November 14, 2022) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott was joined by Baltimore City Department of Transportation Director Steve Sharkey along with officials from the Baltimore City Departments of Public Works, Recreation and Parks, General Services, Fire, Health, Housing and Community Development, the Office of Emergency Management, the Office of Homelessness and the Baltimore Police Department to announce that the City of Baltimore is fully prepared for the upcoming 2022-2023 snow season. 

“Under the leadership of Transportation Director Steve Sharkey, we have thoroughly examined our snow operations to ensure that we are fully prepared for the winter season ahead,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott.  “Safety is our biggest priority, and our snow crews are committed to keeping city streets passable throughout the winter, no matter what Mother Nature may bring.”

The City of Baltimore’s Snow Team is comprised of personnel from the Departments of Transportation, Public Works, Recreation and Parks and General Services.  With a budget of over $7 million, the City’s snow removal efforts include 294 pieces of equipment and over 300 contractor apparatuses for efficient snow removal operations.  The city is fully stocked with over 15,000 tons of salt and equipped with a 36,000 gallon salt brine capacity for pretreating city gateways. 

During a winter storm, the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, along with the Health Department, Housing and Community Development, BCIT, Fire, the Baltimore Police Department and the Office of Homelessness also work closely with the city’s snow team to help keep residents safe in dangerous conditions.

“When inclement weather inevitably hits, the Baltimore City Snow Team will be ready to restore city streets quickly and safely,” said Director Sharkey. “The winter season always brings unpredictable weather, so we encourage everyone to stay safe on the roadways by planning ahead and preparing for snow emergencies.”

For the city’s snow removal efforts to be successful, residents must also prepare for the winter season ahead.  Residents should act now to assemble emergency supply kits for both their homes and vehicles.  During winter storms, residents are advised to remain at home and refrain from driving unless absolutely necessary.  This will help our snow team to treat city streets more efficiently, because any vehicles that become disabled will obstruct the movement of plow trucks and hinder our removal efforts.  

Residents who must travel during inclement weather should be well prepared by making sure their vehicles are properly maintained and learning the three phases of the city’s Snow Emergency Plan.  Motorists should “Know Before You Go – Especially in Ice and Snow” by checking to see if any phases of the snow emergency plan are in effect, as parking may be affected along designated snow emergency routes.  Citizens should tune into local news stations, check media resources and visit the city’s snow page at snow.baltimorecity.gov for updated information during the winter season.

The Department of Transportation will also be launching a fun initiative this winter for residents and local artists to decorate special oversized “salt boxes” in area parks throughout the city.  The new ‘Baltimore Salt Box Campaign’ will help to educate the public on the primary purpose of the iconic salt box. 

The beloved salt boxes, which have become quite popular in recent years, are meant for steep hills or areas too narrow for salt trucks to reach during a snow event.  This campaign will teach residents about the actual role of the saltbox and how roadways are prioritized for snow removal. 

Community members and local artists who have painted salt boxes in the past will have the opportunity to help decorate giant saltboxes located in various parks throughout the city.   To kick off the program, 5 giant salt boxes will be placed in city parks throughout the winter for the public to decorate.  The giant saltboxes will be located at City Hall, Clifton Park, Druid Hill Park, Carrol Park and Patterson Park. 

Additional details about the Baltimore Salt Box Campaign will be announced in December.

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