Philadelphia launches same-day work and pay program for snow removal

Philadelphia crews ramp up snow removal as frustration grows

City officials are facing mounting pressure as snow and ice continue to block streets 10 days after a major winter storm, with no clear answer on when all roads will be cleared.

PHILADELPHIA - City officials are facing mounting pressure as snow and ice continue to block streets 10 days after a major winter storm, with no clear answer on when all roads will be cleared.

City crews ramp up snow removal as frustration grows

What we know:

Mayor Cherelle Parker said the city’s job is not done and there is no set timeline for when every street will be cleared. 

She said, "Our job won’t be done until every street in the city of Philadelphia is walkable, it is passable, every curb cut every bus shelter."

The City has hired hundreds of pay-per-day workers to clear corners and ADA ramps, with 238 workers clearing 60 corners in four hours, according to city officials. 

A new initiative has deployed 300 "ambassadors" to focus on ADA ramps and access near schools, rec centers and commercial corridors. Community partners like Uplift and the NOMO Foundation have helped mobilize workers to speed up cleanup. 

On the first day, roughly 200 workers cleared more than 60 blocks and 500 ADA curb ramps, city officials said.

Philadelphia’s largest city labor union, District Council 33, posted a statement saying it’s "deeply concerned by the City’s decision to bring in outside laborers for snow-removal operations without any consultation or collaboration with our union."

Meal delivery driver Freddy Santiago said, "The small streets they really hard to get through." He added, "How did the city do? Uh.. straight up…. Not so good to be honest with you."

Despite the efforts, many streets remain blocked and cars are still trapped in snow.

Mayor Parker declined to give the city a letter grade for its response, saying, "Giving Philadelphia a grade for having high expectations I think the greatest grade you can give and that’s for all of the leadership who is here., Now you are not going to have me going on the record giving you A through F grade for the city of Philadelphia that’s not what I’m going to do."

Crews and contractors are still working to remove snow and ice, and the costs for recovery continue to rise. 

A spokesperson says the City has already went through it's budget of $4.2 million for snow removal.

The city has expanded its workforce for snow removal, but the ongoing cold and supply issues are slowing progress.

City faces ongoing challenges with salt supply and cold weather

Why you should care:

The city says unprecedented cold weather after the storm has made cleanup harder. 

Road salt supplies are running low because delivery barges are stuck on the frozen Delaware River. 

Kristin Del Rossi, Philadelphia Streets Commissioner, said, "Every event that takes place we immediately place an order for salt. We have multiple orders in and currently we are waiting on our delivery of 21,000."

10 of the city’s 37 snow drop-off sites are already filled, and lifting operations continue in smaller neighborhoods. 

The Streets Department is using 311 calls, crew observations and live cameras to decide which streets get cleared first.

Mayor Parker said, "This job will take as long as it takes to make sure that the city of Philadelphia is clear of snow and ice."

Residents and delivery drivers say they are frustrated by the slow pace of cleanup.

Payment for same-day work and pay shoveling jobs ar $25 per hour and includes protective gear and lunch. 

To find out more or apply for the work program, call 215-685-3629 or email CEO.sdwp@phila.gov.

The city’s approach to prioritizing ADA ramps and key access points is meant to keep schools, rec centers and commercial corridors open, but many neighborhoods are still waiting for relief.

What we don't know:

There is still no timeline from Mayor Cherelle Parker or city officials on when every street will be cleared. It is also unclear when the city will receive its next shipment of road salt.