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Below is an overview on the City of Hoboken’s snow operations along with frequently asked questions:
 
What are the general snow operations that go into effect, before and after a snowstorm? 
 
The City’s snow operations can be broken down into three main phases: 

1. Preparedness before a Snow Emergency
2. Response during a Snow Emergency
3. Recovery after a Snow Emergency

Preparedness before a Snow Emergency: The City treats streets with brine and salt in advance of a snowstorm, and when necessary implements emergency snow routes depending on the severity of the storm. 
 
Response during a Snow Emergency: Crews from Hoboken and Hudson County plow City and County streets, including emergency snow routes when they are in effect. 
 
Recovery after a Snow Emergency: In the case of significant snow, the City will prioritize removal of snow from public places including parks, sidewalks adjacent to City buildings, school zones, and crosswalks in high-trafficked areas. The City requires property owners to clear snow from sidewalks, curb cuts, wheelchair ramps, and areas adjacent to property. 
 
When the majority of snow removal from public places is complete, the City will resume street cleaning regulations. Times of street cleaning are utilized by the City to clear snow from curbside areas to create more parking availability. Vehicles are required to move during each street cleaning hour, so that snow removal crews can access curbside areas without cars blocking snow clearing operations. The City will utilize plows, payloaders and bobcats to clear snow in as many locations as possible during street cleaning times. Snow is piled and staged for removal in locations that for the most part does not block crosswalks, fire hydrants, driveways, and school zones.
 
Once the majority of snow clearing from curbside areas is complete, the City will then utilize payloaders and trucks to remove large piles of snow from sidewalks and streets, which will be moved to designated storage areas. The City at times utilizes a snow melter during these later stages of snow removal.  
 
Background on February snowstorms 
 
Last week, Hoboken and the tri-state area were hit with a powerful nor’easter that brought the most snow since 2016. It was one of the worst snow storms in recent years with nearly 17 inches of snow in some areas. Combined with a second storm, some areas received over 20 total inches of snow. Clearing and removal of the massive amounts of snow requires a significant amount of time and resources.
 
Why did the City resuming street cleaning this week (starting Tuesday) as opposed to waiting? 
 
One of the biggest challenges in Hoboken is finding an on-street parking spot. The demand for curbside parking has far exceeded available supply for decades. To address this major challenge that is exacerbated by the snow, the City clears snow from emergency snow routes first and then from curbside areas during each street cleaning hour to improve access to the curbside and create more parking availability. This in turn then allows the City to more quickly remove the snow as opposed to waiting and keeping the snow in curbside areas for an extra week, or longer. 
 
Additionally, the City has to consider the forecast for potentially even more snow next week, which may require the City to suspend street cleaning again. If the City continued to postpone street cleaning, snow may continue to obstruct curbside access and on-street parking availability and remain on streets for many weeks.
 
My street didn’t look like it was cleared of snow and it was on the street cleaning schedule. Why? 
 
When cars move from curbside areas during designated street cleaning hours, plows, payloaders and bobcats are able to efficiently clear curbside areas without much of an issue. However, cars remaining parked in curbside areas substantially hinders snow operations, causing plows and payloaders to go around the car and preventing the clearing of snow from multiple spots per stationary car. If multiple cars remained unmoved on a certain block, crews are unable to clear snow from those curbside areas. Further, this slows down operations, which may prevent the City from clearing snow on certain routes during designated the street cleaning hour.
 
I moved my car, but I came back to see snow hadn’t been removed from that spot. Why? 
 
Similar to above, if cars either in front of or behind your vehicle didn’t move, a payloader or plow may not have access to clear that spot without risking damage to the car and would likely go around any unmoved car. This is especially true if there are several cars in a row that have not moved.  
 
Were snow crews able to get to most streets on the street cleaning schedule to remove snow? 
 
Plows, payloaders and bobcats performed snow clearing operations on most blocks on the street cleaning routes on Tuesday, and the majority of blocks on Wednesday. However, crews were unable to access certain blocks on Tuesday (and to a lesser extent Wednesday) due to a high number of cars remaining parked along the curbside, causing longer times for plows to work around cars. More vehicles moved from curbside areas on Wednesday, and as a result the majority of blocks were accessed (where cars were able to move) yesterday by snow clearing crews. 
 
The City anticipates gaining access to the majority of blocks for snow clearing of curbside areas, where cars are moved, on Thursday and Friday.
 
Will the City try to get to areas that were unplowed for any reason, next week? 
 
If street cleaning is in effect next week and the weather cooperates, the City plans to continue clearing snow from curbside areas, especially select areas that may not have been accessed this week. It sometimes takes multiple street cleaning cycles to clear large amounts of snow along the curbside in certain areas in the aftermath of major snowstorms.  
 
Will the City actually remove snow, not just clear it from the curbside? 
 
Yes. Following the completion of most snow clearing operations from curbside areas, the City will then remove the piles of snow from streets to designated storage areas. 
 
Why can’t the City clear snow from the curbside and remove snow to storage areas at the same time? 
 
The City first prioritizes the removal of snow from emergency routes, public places (including, but not limited to, crosswalks, parks and City buildings), and then from curbside areas, which creates piles of snow that are staged for removal. Once this is complete, to maximize efficiency, the City then removes piles of snow off of streets to designated storage areas.
 
The City has one designated street cleaning hour per week to remove snow from sometimes dozens of blocks, which can be even more challenging if cars do not move for street cleaning. It would take more time than available during one street cleaning hour and utilize the same staff and equipment that is used for snow removal along the curbside to simultaneously remove snow to storage areas. Focusing operations and staff first on clearing snow, and then during subsequent times, removing snow to storage areas increases overall efficiency.  
 
What can residents do to help with snow operations? 
 
The best thing residents can do is to move their cars for street cleaning. The more cars that are moved, the more curbside space becomes available for on-street parking, and the faster snow can be removed from streets to storage areas. Residents are also asked to please stay off the roads during storms to allow plows to operate efficiently.