Queens Snow Removal: What You Need to Know for the Upcoming Winter

Queens is gearing up for a snowy weekend, with forecasts predicting 5-7 inches of snow. City officials recently shared their winter preparedness plans at a meeting in Borough President Donovan Richards' office. Antonio Whitaker, assistant director of the Bureau of Community Affairs at the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY), outlined the borough's snow removal strategy for the 2026 fiscal year. The DSNY has been working year-round to ensure the city is ready for winter weather. They monitor weather forecasts from three services and have increased the number of plows by 15 percent since 2022. The department now has over 2, 000 vehicles equipped to spread salt and plow snow. Additionally, the transportation department is investing in new equipment to clear bike lanes more efficiently. Before a snowstorm hits, sanitation vehicles are prepped with brine, a salty water solution that prevents snow from sticking to the ground. However, brine is not effective if a storm starts as rain and then turns to snow. The DSNY's snow response levels are categorized by snow accumulation, with different levels of equipment and personnel deployed based on the amount of snow. After a storm, sanitation workers clear city infrastructure, including roads and pedestrian pathways. They use front-end loaders to remove large piles of snow and skid steers to mechanize the shoveling process. Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks in front of their properties to avoid fines. The DSNY has issued over 14, 000 summonses for failure to clear snow and ice. Some attendees at the meeting raised concerns about seniors or disabled persons who are incapable of shoveling snow. Whitaker noted there is currently no formal process in place to address those circumstances, but he would relay any concerns to the rest of the sanitation department.