Every year in Chicago, April 1st marks the first day of the city’s street cleaning season.

But the start of this year’s street sweeping may be a bit more challenging than in recent years due to higher volume of debris leftover from the historically harsh winter.

In fact, street cleaning crews from the city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation began sweeping the city’s arterial streets last week to try to get a jump on these dirt filled streets.

The department is also using crews to pick up litter, refuse and other objects too large for sweepers to clean up.

“With this harsh winter finally coming to an end, Streets and Sanitation has been aggressively cleaning along arterial routes to ensure streets and curb lanes are clear of litter and garbage for the spring,” said Commissioner Charles L. Williams.

Street sweepers will begin attacking side streets between 9 AM and 3 AM on Tuesday, April 1st and city officials warn drivers to pay attention to the bright orange temporary signs that are posted in advance.

In some areas, officials remind drivers in a few select areas (1st & 25th Wards) the temporary signs are not posted due to permanent signs which are there.

In order for crews to achieve curb-to-curb cleaning drivers need to move their cars during the posted times. Vehicles in violation of street cleaning restrictions will face a $60 parking ticket this year–the fine was increased from $50 last year by the city council.

About 300,000 tickets for street cleaning violations are issued every year.

While most streets will see street cleaning every four to six weeks, some main streets are swept once a week from 7-9 AM, again where permanent signs are posted.

Last year, Streets and Sanitation says it swept more miles of street than in 2012. According to the department sweepers cleaned 267,399 lane miles in 2013, a 23,000 lane mile increase over 2012.

Street Cleaning Resources

There are several resources to help warn and remind drivers when the street sweeper is coming to your block.

Streets and Sanitation spokesperson points to the street sweeping schedules posted on the city’s website. Check for your address by ward and then by zone.

There are also a few services and apps that can also help remind motorists to move their car on street sweeping days.

Car Pal is a recently released app which will alert iPhone users when their block is scheduled to get cleaned. It’s free to download.

Several aldermen utilize a messaging service called TktTxt which alerts subscribers the night before and the morning of street sweeping via text message and e-mail. It’s paid for by the ward offices but free to the motorists who subscribe.

However, this service is only available in the 1st (Ald. Joe Moreno), 25th (Ald. Danny Solis), 32nd (Ald. Scott Waguespack) and 44th (Ald. Tom Tunney) Wards.

Drivers in their wards can subscribe via the TktTxt website.

According to a press release from TktTxt, the startup company hopes other aldermen realize the benefit of this service and will opt to subscribe to help their constituents reduce parking tickets and ask drivers in other wards to contact their ward offices to request the service.

Another service called Sweeparound.us also warns drivers of upcoming street cleaning but is not as robust as the other two services.

Street cleaning season will run until November 31st.

During the 2013 sweeping season, the Department increased the city miles swept from

243, 841 lane miles in 2012 to 267,399 lane miles in 2013, an increase of over

23,000 lane miles. The increased efficiencies in 2013 street sweeping are directly

connected to improved manpower allocations across the Department.

The full street sweeping schedule is available online at:

###

Share on Facebook