New trucks for city of Pittsburgh stay parked during snowstorm

PITTSBURGH — Target 11 spotted new city trucks that were not used during the last snowstorm.

This happened even though some Department of Public Works employees contend that they didn't have enough trucks to clear the roads.

Those workers are also upset because they say the city recently purchased trucks that can't be used for snow removal.

The trucks parked at the Public Works Substation in Hazelwood didn't move for weekend snow, as and some Department of Public Works drivers tell Target 11 that the trucks could've helped with snow removal.

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But Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's chief of staff, Dan Gilman, disputed those claims and contends equipment wasn't the big problem.

"We had more equipment than we had drivers, the equipment was not an issue," Gilman said.

Gilman added the city couldn't get enough drivers in during the holiday weekend.

Chief Operations Officer Guy Costa said the new trucks are not four-wheel drive and because of that, are not equipped with plows or salt spreaders.

Costa also said the city was able to get six of the super cab pickup trucks for the price of three four-wheel drive vehicles.

He said they will be primarily used by the Parks and Recreation Department for landscaping.

"I think we have to look at what vehicles we have available and what we can do to get more vehicles on the road," said Theresa Kail Smith with Pittsburgh City Council.

Another councilman, Corey O'Connor, said in the future, the city should consider purchasing equipment that can also be used for plowing and salting in an emergency.

"That's going to be a good conversation for us to have as a city when it comes around the budget season, as to what equipment are we purchasing and and can they be used for multipurpose use across the city, so I think those conversation are already happening," O'Connor said.

Peduto held an emergency meeting Wednesday to address problems with snow removal.

Cox Media Group