According to the DC Department of Public Works (DPW), the familiar, orange street sweepers are coming out of hibernation to resume scheduled street cleaning operations on Monday, March 12, 2001. Parking citations will again be issued to vehicles parked during street sweeping hours in areas posted with "No Parking/Street Cleaning" signs.

Leslie Hotaling, Acting Director of DPW, said, "We're in very good shape this year. Twenty-two out of our fleet of 29 street sweepers are brand new, which means they'll be on the street instead of in the shop."

Residential street cleaning is suspended every year during January, February and the first week of March. DPW officials explain that the street-sweeping machinery spreads a thin layer of water under their rotating brushes, creating hazardous road conditions during winter months.