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1. Why is street sweeping and clear curbs and gutters important?

Curbs and gutters act as a drainage system for stormwater runoff and directing water away from the roadway. Runoff is the major contributor to erosion and damage to our street system. Curbs and gutters hold the pavement in place and collect runoff from the paved streets. Curbs and gutters are designed specifically to quickly convey water runoff away from the street to the storm drains. Keeping these clear of debris and vegetation helps maintain the health and longevity of your street. Water is the single most damaging element to street pavement.

2. Why does the City only clean streets with curbs?

The City cleans only streets with curbs because the accumulation of debris at the curb is caused by the design of the street and vehicular movement. Streets are designed with a crown in the middle sloping toward the sides. Water and debris move toward the curb and gutter areas. Vehicle movement scatters debris to the edges of traffic lanes.

No Curbs

Streets with no curbs are affected by the same factors as curbed streets, but with no curb the debris is dispersed onto areas adjacent to the paved surfaces. Uncurbed streets are, in effect, self-cleaning. Additionally, street sweeping with no curb and gutter can actually create more problems as the brushes pull the dirt and debris from the side of the street onto the asphalt.

3. Where can I find out when a street sweeper will be in my neighborhood? public notification of street cleaning schedules?

The City currently lists all scheduled sweeping projects on its Stormwater Services page OR you can view the schedule on TV via Suddenlink Cable channel 2.

Zone-Rotation Concept

Six sweepers are presently in operation on a full time basis (five during the day and one during the early hours). The City uses a zone-rotation concept to ensure all roads within the city limits receive a fair amount of coverage. Sweeper operators rotate through 42 zones (17 on the north side and 25 on the south side), which contain over 1,700 standard lane miles of road. The amount of debris in each zone dictates the speed at which an operator is able to complete a zone. The season will also dictate how quickly get to and through a zone. If you want to know when the sweeper will be in your neighborhood, it is best to check the schedule on the webpage noted above or watch one of the channels listed above. For more information or to report hazardous situations call the Stormwater Hotline 325-437-4937

4. Why wasn’t street sweeping completed in front of my house?

There are a number of factors that affect the sweeper not being able to remove debris from your street. Most often it’s because large items are blocking the roadway, these items include:

• Basketball Hoops
• Bicycles
• Cars and other vehicles (ATVs, Boats, Trailers)
• Refuse Containers
• Toys
• Piles of branches, leaf litter, or dirt (used for landscaping or home renovation projects)

5. How can I help the street sweepers?

Keeping the roadway in front of your house free of large objects and obstructions is the best way to assist street sweeping crews’ clean-up efforts. You can do this by:

• Remove large sticks and branches from the roadway in front of your house. They will jam and possibly damage the sweeper’s operating system.
• Remove grass or weeds that grow in the gutter. This will reduce debris in front of your house and will improve water runoff during rainstorms.
• Do not sweep anything into the gutter or street. Blowing leaves, grass and dirt into the gutter makes it difficult for the sweeping crews to clean the streets and it is a violation of the City’s Stormwater Ordinance. Rake leaves and either compost them, bag them and place in the dumpster, or take them to the City’s Abilene Brush Center located at 2159 Sand Street off of East Highway 80.
• Avoid wet cleaning activities which can flush debris into the street and gutters. Utilize dry cleaning methods wherever possible and dispose of debris in an appropriate refuse container.
• Properly trim your street trees so the sweeper can clean next to the curb. Trees should be trimmed to a height of 13-1/2 foot at the curb-line. Low hanging branches and shrubs growing into the right of way prohibits the sweeper from clearing debris from in front of your home. This will also allow for easy access of trash pickup vehicles.
• Organize and/or participate in neighborhood clean ups.

Vehicles

Often times, vehicles are parked too close to each other for the sweeper to maneuver between them (one parked car equals nearly three car lengths of space that can’t be swept because the street sweeping equipment must maneuver around it, which can result in debris build up.