MoDot is cutting back on snow removal

See Related Stories

Intro:	Missourians will see changes in snow removal this winter.
RunTime:	0:38
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: In an effort to cut costs, Missouri's transportation department will focus first on the most traveled roads.

But that's not the only change.

Becky Allmeroth is a maintenance engineer for MoDOT.

She says MoDOT will be using new technology to reduce the amount of excess salt that is spilled from trucks.

Actuality:	ALLM6.WAV
Run Time:	00:13
Description: "We now have some computerized equipment on the truck that's kind of smart equipment so when the truck slows down, the amount of salt that goes down slows down, and when we're stopped at an intersection, the amount of salt that goes down completely stops."

Allmeroth also says improved snow plows will allow for fewer plows to be on the road.

From the state Capitol, I'm Rebecca Woolf.

Intro:	Missouri residents may have to wait longer this winter for their roads to get plowed.
RunTime:	0:42
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: In order to cut costs, Missouri's transportation department will focus on the most traveled roads first.

Becky Allmeroth is a maintenance engineer for MoDOT.

She says MoDOT began to introduce these changes last year, and many residents were upset.

Actuality:	ALLM3.WAV
Run Time:	00:08
Description: "But as the season went on we proved to the public that 'Yeah, we're making these cutbacks, but you're really not going to see a whole lot of difference in the level of service'."

Actuality: ALLM3.WAV

Run Time: 00:08
Description: "But as the season went on we proved to the public that 'Yeah, we're making these cutbacks, but you're really not going to see a whole lot of difference in the level of service'."

Allmeroth says there will be fewer snow plows on the streets, but it will not affect safety because recent improvements allow trucks to plow larger areas.

MoDot has also improved the technology of salt trucks to reduce the amount that is spilled ... and will use sand instead of salt on many rural roads.

From the state Capitol, I'm Rebecca Woolf.

Intro:	Missouri's transportation department is using new methods of snow removal to cut costs this winter.
RunTime:	0:40
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Becky Allmeroth is a maintenance engineer for the department.

She says MoDOT will use improved snow plows that allow them to send out fewer trucks than last year.

Actuality:	ALLM7.WAV
Run Time:	00:11
Description: "In our snow plows that we have now, we're able to put some wing plows on, plows off to the side. And then also what we call our tow plows, which is a plow that we tow behind a normal truck."

The new plows can cover twice the amount of distance as the old ones.

MoDot has also improved the technology of salt trucks to reduce the amount that is spilled ... and will use sand instead of salt on many rural roads.

Sand will not be used in the city because it could damage the sewers.

From the state Capitol, I'm Rebecca Woolf.