This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
With this year's mild winter and warm temperatures, the Utah Department of Transportation saved some money on snow removal — but not as much as might be expected.
After all costs are accounted, it will save about $1.45 million that could be used for other maintenance work, UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras told a legislative budget committee on Friday.
He explained that UDOT budgeted $23.6 million for snow removal this year. It figures that snow removal costs about $1 million for every big statewide snowstorm, and it expects between 23 and 25 storms per season.
So far, UDOT has spent only $9.84 million. But if the rest of winter returns closer to average, it projects it would spend a total of $17.79 million for the season.
But, Braceras adds, UDOT has fixed costs for labor and equipment whether or not snow removal occurs — and crews are sent to do other road work when it does not snow.
After internal charges for that, he said only $1.45 million is available for other maintenance work.
— Lee Davidson