Do Your Part in Planning Accordingly for Winter Weather

Be Prepared for Winter Weather

November 8, 2017

Safety is the university’s top priority and Facilities Operations and Development (FOD), CampusParc, Transportation & Traffic Management (TTM) and the Department of Public Safety work together to offer services during the winter months to keep you safe. As snow and ice start to collect, FOD teams are dispatched to treat campus roadways and sidewalks. They remain on campus throughout the day and night treating and plowing as needed. CampusParc crews will also be on campus treating parking lots and garages, with garage rooftops remaining open, when possible. Learn more on the CampusParc website (link is external).

Please understand the 130 miles of campus sidewalk and 40 miles of campus roads take nearly six hours to clear one time. While customers may still see snow in the areas, our facilities crew will do its best to keep pathways clear.  It is important to note that several factors can impact the time needed to treat roadways, sidewalks and parking areas. These factors include, but are not limited to:

  • Temperature
  • Amount of snow accumulation
  • Wind levels
  • Time of day when inclement weather occurs
  • Day of week (weekday vs. weekend)
  • Campus events

TTM will continue to offer bus service, but you are encouraged to utilize the Ohio State Mobile app for real-time CABS tracking (link is external) to stay updated on CABS service offerings.   Ohio State’s Emergency Management team will continue to monitor weather and share significant updates online (link is external) as well as via Twitter @OSU_EMFP (link is external).  

Please exercise caution during inclement weather and be prepared.  When traveling plan ahead, allow extra time and dress appropriately for the weather. If you see a potentially unsafe condition due to ice or snow, do not try to rectify the situation yourself, report the situation to Service2Facilities at 614-292-4357 or service2facilities@osu.edu. 

Winter Travel Tips

  • When traveling during inclement weather, be sure to plan ahead, allow extra time and dress appropriately for the weather.
  • Know your route and pay special attention to changing and/or declining weather conditions.
  • Take it slow to avoid slipping and sliding and remain alert as you move on and around campus.
  • Allow additional distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you during snowy and ice conditions.
  • Be sure to keep your vehicle windows, head, tail and break lights clear of ice and snow.
  • Prepare a winter emergency kit for your vehicle. Be sure to include a flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries, blankets, hats and gloves, first aid kit, emergency flares and shovel, cell phone charger as well as water and nonperishable food items. Additional ideas can be found here (link is external).
  • Wear sensible shoes and dress in layers for travel between destinations.
  • Obtain real-time CABS bus arrival information via the Ohio State app to plan your route. Be sure to review break and university holiday CABS service schedules.
  • COTA provides free fares on all buses on all routes in the event the Franklin County Sheriff declares a Level 2 or Level 3 snow emergency. Learn more about traveling with COTA during severe weather (link is external). For more information contact COTA at (614) 228-1776.
  • If you need a place to store your bicycle during the winter months, rent a bicycle locker.
  • Additional tips can be found here (link is external).
  • Have questions or need help? E-mail our team or follow us on Twitter (link is external)!

Additional Resources:

Tags: 
CABS