Contact: Linda Grant, 202-671-2375

(Washington, DC) Finally, it looks like the weather will cooperate with mild temperatures to allow the Department of Public Works to start its residential mechanical street sweeping program Monday, March 16. This seasonal sanitation program is scheduled to run each year from March 1-October 31 but the start has been delayed because of weeks of wintry weather.

Signs are posted that identify the days of the week and hours of the day when parking restrictions will be enforced so the sweepers can clean the streets effectively. The fine for violating this restriction is $45. Street sweeping parking restrictions will not be enforced until the sweeping program resumes March 16.

The program represents a pledge by residents who have committed to move their vehicles when sweeping is underway. “To become part of the program, we require 80 percent of the residents to sign a petition promising to honor the parking restrictions,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. “Their cooperation is what makes the program successful.”

Mr. Howland noted DPW established March 1 through October 31 in 2012 as residential street sweeping season and this information appears on the signs where the program is in effect.  He asked motorists to obey the times parking is restricted.  “A supervisor follows behind the sweeper and may require the block to be swept again, so don’t park until the end of the posted sweeping period,” he said. Beginning March 16, parked cars also may be towed to allow the sweepers access to the curbside. Generally, parking is prohibited for two hours while sweeping is underway.

DPW street sweepers cover about 4,000 lane miles monthly, removing litter and pollutants by brushing them onto a conveyor system, which transports the material into a debris hopper. The sweeper also emits a fine spray of water to help control dust.  In addition to sweeping residential streets during spring, summer and fall, DPW also sweeps commercial streets overnight year-round (weather permitting), and parking restrictions also apply.

For more information about street sweeping, go to  www.dpw.dc.gov