Thursday, November 17, 2011

Here we go again

Planning for Inclement Weather
Wintery weather is in the forecast for November 18 and the coming weekend.
A service plan for November 18 has been developed and communicated to Bus and
Rail Maintenance, Field Operations, OCC, and facilities.
We will be assigning buses
with drop down Insta-chain systems to routes that are more likely to be affected by
snow/ice. Three 30-foot buses will also be chained for use on Council Crest and as a
shuttle for Mt. Scott if needed.
Winter weather in the Tri-County area is always a challenge to predict thus our
preparation must always be with the worst case scenario in mind. Even if conditions
change suddenly, it is important that TriMet is ready and prepared for a response.
This early winter weather is a reminder of the need to make any necessary personal
preparations before a snow and ice event hits our region. TriMet never closes, in the
event of a winter storm all employees should report for duty on-time as normal.
A few reminders about snow/ice operations:
Have a plan to get to work in the event of a winter storm.
Bring cold weather gear, plenty of food & water.
When you sign-in and get your pouch, check for snow routes and any additional
info. If you are on a snow route, use the pink Snow Route Map; otherwise use
your regular route.
Adjust to the conditions. Drive slower and increase your following distance as tire
traction on snow or ice is minimal.
If you have chains on your bus or insta-chains activated, keep your speed at no
more than 25 MPH.
Stop your bus if you hear chains slapping against the bus. Tie down loose or
broken cross-links. If you cannot tie down broken cross-links, remained stopped
and contact Dispatch for assistance.
More information on winter weather operations and preparation is available on TriNET.

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