YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Street Department (YSD) has finalized its snow and ice control plan for the 2024-25 winter season.

YSD is responsible for 958 streets in the city, 52 miles of expressway and 38 miles of state routes. YSD will be operating 24/7 with crews working 12-hour shifts until all roads are clear and passable.

The department currently has 26 drivers and 30 trucks on deck for the season and 7,500 tons of road salt stored on site. Crews will pretreat expressways and bridges when snow and/or ice conditions are forecasted.

Crews will work in the following order:

1. Freeway systems, roads around and leading to Saint Elizabeth Hospital, all primary roads, hills and bridges

2. Side streets

3. Rural streets

4. Rerun all routes to ensure all roads are clear and passable

During a snow emergency, which happens when a snow accumulation of four or more inches occurs within 24 hours, a street parking ban will be enacted to allow for trucks to clear the roadways.

Cars parked in the street during these parking bans will be subject to tow at the owner's expense. Residents on the streets or alleys 25 feet wide or less and without driveways are exempt from parking bans.

Once a snow emergency is declared, multiple city departments and contractors will be called upon to assist YSD in order to double the amount of equipment on the streets.

The Building and Grounds and Park Departments will work on the downtown business district, and the Waste Water and Traffic Engineering Departments and contractors will work on the areas affected the most by winter weather.