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Snow & Ice Removal

Snow removal on streets

Our goal is to have all streets treated and/or plowed within 48 hours of completion of a winter storm, but many factors (including timing, severity and type of storm) can affect our snow response. We appreciate your patience while we complete the plowing process. If after that time you feel your street has been missed, please let us know.

Report a missed street

Our highest priority is ensuring residents and motorists traveling through Lenexa are safe. But, we understand you also need to travel the roads in a timely manner. To ensure the most number of people are able to utilize the roads, we plow them in priority order.

Arterial and collector roads: Roads such as 87th Street Parkway, Pflumm Road, Prairie Star Parkway and Renner Boulevard are considered arterial roads and receive first priority in plowing. This enables emergency service providers such as fire, ambulance and police safe access.
Residential streets: Neighborhood streets are given second priority in plowing due to the smaller number of vehicles traveling on them. Lenexa crews begin focusing on residential streets after the main roadways are clear.

Snow zones

Map of designated arterial and collector streets(PDF, 1MB)

Please note, the numbering on the map does not correlate with the priority of plowing or salting. The snow zones are numbered to designate plowing and salting routes that are assigned to trucks. All routes have trucks in them.

Snow removal on trails

Snow removal on trails will begin after the snow event has ended and all streets and public buildings are cleared. During snow events, all Parks & Recreation maintenance staff are assigned to a street or public facility snow removal route. These duties will continue to take priority over trail snow removal.

Trail snow removal will take place during normal working hours on weekdays.

Staff will make a judgment call on whether or not to remove snow from trails with each winter weather event. If forecast weather conditions indicate the snow will melt on its own with 48 hours of a snow event, we will likely not remove the snow.

Trails will not be treated with ice melt, so pedestrians should keep an eye out for areas of ice and refreezing in shady locations or areas with poor drainage.

Staff will also clear school crossings to make walking to school safer for students. Snow removal will take place at crossings close to schools where a crossing guard would typically be posted.

Frequently asked questions

When does the City start plowing after a storm begins?

Our winter storm operations begin long before the snow and ice actually falls. Our crews are constantly monitoring the weather when a winter storm is predicted.

Plowing on major streets begins after approximately two inches has accumulated. However, based on the type and severity of the storm, we may start on the major arterial and collector streets before that time. We will begin plowing residential areas once the major streets have been addressed, and if conditions worsen, we may temporarily stop residential plowing and salting to return to the major streets.

Because safety is our top priority, we will also temporarily stop plowing operations to assist emergency vehicles in reaching their destination during a winter storm.

How long does it take to clear all the streets and when will my street be cleared?

We aim to have snow and ice removed from all city streets within 48 hours after a winter storm has ended.

In order to provide the most effective and efficient snow and ice control routes, we prioritize our streets to enable emergency service providers such as fire, ambulance and police safe access to protect the public.

We place the highest priority on major streets such as arterials (87th Street Parkway or 95th Street, for example) and collectors (main roads that lead to arterials and have many side streets – 83rd Street or Loiret Boulevard, for example).

After those roads are cleared, crews will then start clearing residential streets. The severity of the storm will dictate when crews begin clearing residential streets. Each winter storm is unique and various levels of activities may be required based on storm severity, temperatures prior to storm event, predicted temperatures and winds during and after the event, and equipment availability.

Does the City only plow streets or does it salt them, too?

Our approach to plowing and salting streets is largely based on the severity of the storm and the predicted storm totals. All winter storm events will begin with treating streets with salt. Crews will begin plowing streets when two inches is accumulated.

Does the City plow and salt private streets?

No, we are not responsible for clearing snow and ice from private streets.

Do City workers work around the clock?

Yes, crews work 24 hours a day in 12-hour shifts.

How many snow removal vehicles does the City have on the streets during a storm?

We have eight tandem-axle trucks and 17 single-axle trucks equipped with spreaders and front and wing plows. There are an additional ten 1-ton trucks equipped with spreaders and front plows that can be deployed to City-owned parking lots and residential areas as needed.

Why do the plows push a pile of snow onto my driveway?

When snow plow trucks pass by your home, a windrow of snow can be pushed up against the curb and in front of your driveway. This is unavoidable and is due to the plow removing snow from the center of the road. You should clear the windrows from your driveway before the snow re-freezes and becomes more difficult to remove.

To help reduce the appearance of windrows, pile snow on the left side of your driveway (facing your home), and shovel an inlet on the right side. This allows a large portion of the windrow to be pushed into the inlet, reducing the amount of snow pushed on your driveway.

If a snowplow blocked your driveway in a way that makes it impassable, please email snowman@lenexa.com.

Why are there large piles of snow in my cul-de-sac?

Because several homes and driveways are concentrated in one area in cul-de-sacs, there is little curb space available where our crews can push the snow.