The storm cleanup is underway in Middle Village, where the Department of Sanitation is deploying new equipment. NY1's Clodagh McGowan filed the following report.
Maneuvering through these narrow, one-way streets in Middle Village can be difficult on a good day. Add more than a half foot of snow and it's even more challenging.
"We really can't use the full size collection trucks to service a lot of these areas because the streets are just too narrow, intersecting one-ways, some of the challenges we face," said DSNY Assistant Chief Garrett O'Reilly.
Thursday’s storm was the first test of a new approach to clear narrow streets in residential neighborhoods like Middle Village. Last winter, the city was hammered for taking days to remove snow on these secondary roads. So over the summer, the de Blasio administration spent $21 million buying a fleet of these smaller plows, called haulsters, that are easier to maneuver.
“The big equipment couldn't get through effectively. Everything got bogged down. That was one of the things that convinced that we needed the smaller equipment," said de Blasio, in a press conference Thursday morning.
Middle Village residents said the cleanup from this year's Nor'easter has been a completely different experience from last year's blizzard.
"Last year I think they didn't come around. I didn't see a plow for the first full day. This year I see that they're coming through quite often and they're really getting on top of it," said Bobby Patel, who lives in the area.
After the January 2016 Blizzard, Middle Village residents told NY1 a number of sanitation vehicles got stuck which contributed to the slow response. Officials said that shouldn’t be a problem with the new haulsters.
"When equipment breaks down or does struggle it also gives us another avenue where we have additional trucks, where we can back up around let's say if we are struggling in a particular area we can move a piece over to help accommodate that need," said O’Reilly.
Officials also remind residents it's important to not shovel snow back into the street while digging out. That would only add to the mess crews are working to clean up.