BUFFALO, N.Y. — The city of Buffalo is already back to preparing for another snow storm.
However, a lot of people are still cleaning up from the last one.
Two weeks ago, a storm dumped nearly two feet of snow on the city. Buffalo’s plowing plan prioritizes clearing main and secondary roads first, and then plowing residential roads.
But some residents say plows didn’t come at all for the first 48 hours after the storm. And when they did come, it was a swipe.
Even some Buffalo Common Council members have acknowledged it was a poor plowing job, blaming heavy snowfall and illegally parked cars.
Councilmembers continue to discuss a revised snow removal plan that will help people understand their roles.
“Commissioner, if you can come up with a timetable, even if we have to have a virtual town hall, I think now is the time,” Councilmember Rasheed N.C. Wyatt said. “I think residents want to know they’ve been heard in these situations and that we’re not ignoring them."
Councilmembers suggested moving around public works employees to take an all-hands-on-deck approach for future storms. They also discussed buying a $45,000 GPS system that lets people track plows and issues on roads.
For now, Buffalo city officials are assuring the public they’re prepared to take on whatever amount of snow comes next.
“We are addressing mains and secondaries as the first priority during the snowfall,” Buffalo DPW Commissioner Michael Finn said. “Once the snowfall ends, then we start that goal of 24 hours to get one pass on each residential side street.”
Officials say parking enforcement and towing will be used to remove illegally parked cars, which block plows from clearing the streets.
Drivers are asked to follow winter parking rules for the next few days.