MassDOT Snow and Ice Control Program - Annual Report
MassDOT Snow and Ice Control Program
Annual Report
Winter 2011-2012
Introduction
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has prepared this inaugural Annual Report as a means to
provide an end of year summary with respect to its Snow and Ice Control (S&I) Program. This report provides a status
update on various activities, changes, improvements and deicing material usage for this past fiscal year from July 1, 2011 to
June 30, 2012. One of the major activities of this past year was the completion of the 2012 Snow and Ice Control
Environmental Status and Planning Report (ESPR) with a Draft Report released in March and a Final Draft completed in June
2012. The next S&I ESPR is scheduled to be completed in 2017. Until that time, this Annual Report will serve to keep
interested stakeholders and residents updated on recent activities and changes within the MassDOT Snow and Ice Control
Program.
MassDOT Snow & Ice Annual Report- 2011/12
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MassDOT Snow and Ice Control Program - Annual Report
values indicate greater severity). In comparison, two
previous mild winters of FY02 and FY07 were even more
severe than this most recent winter. In contrast, the
winters of FY05 and FY07 represent the most severe
winters in recent history followed closely by the winters
FY11 and FY01.
Contents
Summary of Winter Weather
Winter Severity Index
Material Use and Costs
Material Left in Storage
Efficiency Measures and Equipment Upgrades
Remediation Activities
Storage Facility Improvements
Progress on 2012 ESPR Recommendations
Looking Forward
The estimated WSI values also vary considerably across
the state with Districts 1 and 3 typically having the lowest
or most severe WSI values and Districts 2 and 5 having the
highest or mildest WSI values on a year to year basis.
Districts 4 and 6 generally have similar WSI values that are
typically between Districts 1&3 and 2&5.
Summary of Winter Weather
Despite an early snow storm in October 2011, the winter
of 2011/2012 (FY12) was one of the mildest winters in
recent Massachusetts history. In fact, the 3-month period
th
of January, February and March was the 4 driest and the
warmest on record based on 118 years of weather data
(DCR, Current Water Conditions Report, April 12, 2012).
November was also the warmest on record and December
set a record as being the least snowiest on record.
Ironically, October was the snowiest October on record
th
due to the Oct. 29-30 storm that dropped as much as 30
inches of snow in the higher elevations in the
northwestern portions of the state. Snowfall amounts in
the eastern half of the state were much lower and
generally in the range of 2 to 4 inches due to higher
temperatures moderated by the warmer ocean
temperatures. The Worcester Airport recorded 14.6” of
snow over the 2-day event.
For the season, total snowfalls ranged from 46.8 inches in
District 1 (nearly half occurred in Oct) to approximately 14
inches in District 4. The number of days with measurable
snow generally ranged between 9 and 24 days for Districts
4 and 1, respectively.
Winter Severity Index
MassDOT recently began using a Winter Severity Index
(WSI) methodology as a means to rate the relative
severity of winter weather conditions from year to year.
The index is based on a number of variables including
snowfall depth, minimum daily temperature, maximum
daily temperature and the number of days with frost
potential. As described in the 2012 Snow and Ice ESPR,
MassDOT’s annual salt usage over the last 10-12 years is
strongly correlated to the annual changes in WSI values
from year to year.
This past winter of FY12 was the mildest winter in recent
history given that last year’s average statewide Winter
Severity Index (WSI) value was more than 90 percent
below the long term average statewide WSI value of -15.6
going back 12 years to FY01. (Note: more negative WSI
MassDOT Snow & Ice Annual Report- 2011/12
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MassDOT District Map
Table 1-Comparison of Average Statewide WSI
Fiscal
Year
Statewide
Average
WSI
FY01
FY02
FY03
FY04
FY05
FY06
FY07
FY08
FY09
FY10
FY11
FY12
12 yr Ave
1
-23.9
-5.7
-26.3
-14.6
-26.8
-14.5
-5.6
-20.0
-20.3
-10.9
-24.3
-1.2
-15.6
Departure
From
Normal1
47%
-65%
62%
-10%
65%
-10%
-66%
23%
25%
-32%
50%
-93%
--
Note: Normal is represented by 12 year average.
Lower values indicate more severe winter conditions.
Material Use and Costs
As shown in Table 2 below, the amount of salt applied this
past winter statewide was 218,245 tons, which is by far
the least amount of salt used by MassDOT over the last 12
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MassDOT Snow and Ice Control Program - Annual Report
years. The FY12 annual salt usage was less than half of
the historical average seasonal usage in the last 12-years.
The amount of salt used in FY02 and FY07 which represent
nd
rd
the 2 and 3 mildest winters in recent history was
approximately 85,000 to 90,000 tons greater than that
used in FY12.
Table 2- Comparison of FY12 Salt Usage (tons) to the 12Year Statewide Average Annual Salt Usage
Fiscal
Annual Salt
% Departure
Year
Usage (tons) from Normal
FY01
625,855
28%
FY02
303,606
-38%
FY03
734,082
50%
FY04
FY05
FY06
FY07
FY08
FY09
474,974
726,086
413,095
310,390
535,159
606,587
-3%
48%
-16%
-37%
9%
24%
FY10
367,436
-25%
FY11
FY12
12- yr Ave
556,839
218,245
489,363
14%
-55%
Note: 1Percent difference represents difference between
FY2012 Salt Usage and the 12-Yr Ave. salt Usage.
The lower salt use in FY12 in large part was due to the
mild winter conditions but it may have also been due in
part to more widespread use of various efficiency
measures. For instance, starting in FY11, all contractors
were required to have pre-wetting equipment in order to
be called into service. Pre-wetting salt has previously been
reported to increase salt use efficiency by 20 to 30 % by
minimizing the amount of salt lost due to bounce and
scatter on dry pavement. The increased use of liquid
deicers for pre-treatment applications also represents a
major step forward in the efficient use of material as well
as the increased use of closed-loop controllers as noted
below.
The lower salt usage in FY12 follows a similar trend
observed in FY11. The FY11 winter was much more severe
as indicated by the WSI value being 50% higher than the
12-year average value and yet the annual salt usage was
only 14 percent higher than the historical average salt
usage. The amount of salt used was far less than that
used in previous winter years of similar severity such as
FY01, FY03 and FY05. In fact, FY01 had a very similar
estimated WSI value as FY11 and yet the amount of salt
used in FY01was nearly 70,000 tons more than that used
in FY11. It is important to point out that back then
MassDOT maintained approximately 2,000 fewer laneMassDOT Snow & Ice Annual Report- 2011/12
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miles than it currently does with the addition of the
MassPike and other roadways that occurred in FY10.
The use of the Winter Severity Index (WSI) has shown to
be an effective tool to explain the variability in annual salt
usage. A post-seasonal review of the WSI also provides a
review of material usage in comparison to operation
improvements on a District and statewide basis. As
shown in the Figure below, annual salt usage closely
correlates to changes in winter severity conditions from
year to year.
Historical Comparison of Annual Statewide Salt Usage vs.
Average WSI Value
Material Left in Storage
A summary report on October 3, 2012 indicated the
following material in storage per district.
District 1 - 29,665 tons among 14 depots
District 2 - 39,512 tons among 18 depots
District 3 - 62,363 tons among 31 depots
District 4 - 55,320 tons among 26 depots
District 5 - 71,644 tons among 34 depots
District 6 - 42,956 tons among 14 depots
Efficiency Measures and Equipment Upgrades
• Closed Loop Controllers - Closed loop controllers are
used to electronically regulate the rate at which salt is
applied regardless of the speed of vehicle. Previous
studies have suggested that closed-loop controllers are
more efficient and consistent with the application of
deicing material. The number of contractors using
closed loop controllers this past 2011-12 winter
increased to approximately 70 percent compared to
approximately 50 percent in the previous winter.
• Friction Meter- The friction meter is another innovative
tool being evaluated by District 4 as means of
determining when material applications are necessary
based on real-time measurements of pavement friction
or “slipperiness”. This past winter was the first year
that the friction meter was consistently operated during
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MassDOT Snow and Ice Control Program - Annual Report
snow events. It is still too early in the evaluation
process to arrive at any definitive conclusions.
• Tow Plows –In FY12, MassDOT purchased 17 tow plows
that will be delivered over the next few years. Tow
plows enable multiple lanes to be cleared in one vehicle
pass, which effectively reduces the number of operators
and plow trucks needed in one area. Last year, five (5)
tow plows were used on multi-lane, high speed
interstates in various districts. Fewer plow trucks not
only reduces program costs but can free up personnel
and equipment for other more critical areas.
Training
This past winter reached a major milestone in terms of the
number of contractors that attended pre-winter tail-gate
training sessions. A total of 160 contractors attended
these training sessions. The following summarizes tail-gate
training locations:
District 1: Otis, W. Pittsfield
District 2: South Hadley, W. Springfield
District 3: Ashby, Auburn
District 4: Salisbury, Newbury, Boxford, Andover,
Lexington.
District 5: Hanover, Whitman
District 6: Dedham/Westwood
Storage Facility Improvements
• A new “state of the art” 4,500 ton capacity high arch
gambrel storage shed was completed in Chelmsford.
The shed’s clearance allows for loading and unloading
of material under the roof.
• New roof extensions and/or new shed doors were
completed for several sheds across the state.
• In Andover, a new 4,500 ton storage facility is being
constructed along River Road and will replace the
fabric shed along I-93 that is within the Haggett Pond
water supply watershed. The new facility will allow for
material loading /unloading under roof. Construction
advertising for this job occurred on Sept. 29, 2012.
• Also, in Andover, the Prospect Street shed will be
replaced with a new 3,500 ton capacity fabric shed
that will also allow loading/ unloading under cover. Bid
opening was in August 2012.
• In Rowley, a new 5,000 ton capacity fabric shed will be
constructed to allow loading and unloading under
cover. Bid opening was in August 2012.
• In Braintree, a 6,500 ton shed is in initial design phase,
which will replace six small 1,000 ton wood sheds. The
new shed will allow loading /unloading under cover
and will be located outside the wetland buffer zone.
This project was advertised on Sept. 29, 2012.
Progress on 2012 ESPR Recommendations
The 2012 ESPR, included various recommendations to
further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the S&I
Control Program. The following provides a brief summary
of the progress made on several of the recommendations:
In addition, approximately 690 MassDOT employees
attended snow and ice training in the fall of 2011.
Remediation Activities
• MassDOT received fourteen new salt contamination
complaints between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012.
There were two (2) complaints in the Towns of Ashby
and Hopkinton and separate individual complaints in
the Towns of Charlton, Grafton, Palmer, Uxbridge,
Douglas, Otis, Gill, Tyngsboro and Boxford. Five new
complaints are being investigated as part of the Salt
Remediation Program, five complainants did not
respond to requests for baseline data, one complaint
was denied due to the fact that the property was not
located near a state road, and one other complaint
MassDOT Snow & Ice Annual Report- 2011/12
was denied because the water quality data did not
meet the minimum program requirements.
• MassDOT is currently coordinating with public water
suppliers in the Towns of Orange, Wilmington and
Dedham-Westwood to identify what types of
measures may be needed to limit future road salt
contributions in the Zone II areas around these wells.
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• REC #1: In Reduced Salt Zones, conduct a pilot study to
modify the sand:salt mix to use less sand and still utilize
less salt through increased pavement monitoring.
Progress: MassDOT initiated a pilot study last year in
select locations but due to very few snow events, the
results were inconclusive.
• REC #5: Evaluate and prioritize storage shed
improvements in key locations, especially in PWS areas
with documented increasing trends in sodium, levels.
Progress: See Summary of Recent Storage Shed
improvements described above.
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MassDOT Snow and Ice Control Program - Annual Report
• REC #6: Incorporate use of GPS technology and material
usage data logging in spreader trucks to improve
material usage efficiency. Evaluate the possibility of
using geo-fencing technology to establish electronic
geo-fenced boundaries to signal and adjust automatic
spreader controls and /or alert operators of major
environmental resources in the area.
Progress: MassDOT has issued a purchase order/
acquisition request for GPS/AVL software and related
equipment to install in select spreaders and wireless
data transfer equipment in select sheds to allow data
retrieval.
• MassDOT and UMass Engineering renewed the
Interagency Service Agreement to conduct salt
investigations through 2015.
• The Boxford Salt Study scope of work and first task
Existing Data Collection and Compilation was
approved.
• MassDOT met with NHESP to discuss concerns
regarding Kampoosa Bog.
• MassDOT is working on an improved web page to
improve public outreach for Snow & Ice Operations
as well as the Salt Remediation Program.
• REC #8: Evaluate Friction Meter as a possible tool to
reduce the number of applications during winter events
via testing on roadways in D4 and assess potential for
integrating the friction meter with closed-loop
controller.
Progress: Friction meter was fully tested for the first
time last year in D4, but again due to very few snow
events, the data was inconclusive and more study is
needed. MassDOT is also to seeking to install passive
friction meters on select overhead signs and bridges for
informational purposes.
• REC #10: Continue to utilize and formalize the mission
of the Snow and Ice Material Usage Committee as a
means to prioritize goals and identify measures to make
the program more efficient and effective while
emphasizing that road safety, environmental protection
and increased reporting and record- keeping are
essential.
Progress: Recent Committee meetings were held on
April 18 and August 27, 2012.
• REC #11- Establish a process to prepare an Annual
Summary Report to summarize the changes and
equipment upgrades implemented over the season.
Progress: This document represents the First Annual
Report for 2011/12.
• REC#15- Confer with other S&I personnel form other
Northeast states to exchange ideas and technology
Information on best management practices.
Progress: MassDOT hosted a Symposium with other
Northeast DOT representatives in 2011. Future
symposiums are likely to be planned.
Looking Forward
• MassDOT’s first salt brine facility has been approved
for Sagamore depot and anticipated to be in operation
for 2012-2013 winter season. The facility has been
completed and is now being tested.
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