LARGO, MD – Prince George’s County’s Department of Public Works and Transportation will conduct its Annual Snow and Ice Dry Run exercise on Friday morning, October 26, 2012, beginning at 4:00 AM.
Media is invited to participate in a ride-along with drivers, interview staff and/or join Command staff at DPW&T’s state-of-the-art Traffic Response and Information Partnership (TRIP) Center (8414 D’Arcy Road, Forestville) – DPW&T’s coordination hub for snow and emergency related information/activities with public safety agencies and state or regional transportation management centers.
The Dry Run provides an opportunity for inclement weather emergency procedures to be tested to the last detail before the winter weather strikes. Safety inspections of all vehicles and evaluations of operational procedures and communication systems allow for any remaining pre-season Snow and Ice Control Program adjustments before inclement weather hits.
More than 400 DPW&T employees, engineers, administrative staff, project coordinators and bus drivers, as well as crews from other County agencies that partner with DPW&T in snow and ice operations, participate in alternative duty assignments ranging from snowplow drivers and safety inspectors to supply monitors and customer service representatives.
Drivers follow their assigned routes to familiarize themselves with the routes, time their runs, and conduct inspections to identify any hazardous road conditions that need to be addressed.
In addition, the County’s newly installed Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) system, which allows for tracking of all snow vehicles to determine where a particular vehicle is or has been, will be monitored from the Command Center.
And, to make the exercise as realistic as possible, members of DPW&T’s innovative Community Partners’ Program will participate through mock telephone calls, which will help to test the new AVL system and gage staff response times.
Contact Susan Hubbard at 240.508.9723 to schedule a ride-along and/or obtain additional information.
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