The Los Alamos Transportation Board on Wednesday recommended approval of the county’s FY26 Snow and Ice Control Plan following a presentation by newly hired Traffic and Streets Manager Tim Walker Foster.

Tim Walker Foster, a civil engineer licensed in New Mexico who said he spent about 15 years on snow removal at Los Alamos National Laboratory, told the board the plan’s priorities are safety, efficiency and cost‑effective operations while maintaining mobility for motorists, transit riders, bicyclists and pedestrians. “The goal includes safe completion of an initial storm response within 24 hours of the end of a typical snow event,” Walker Foster said.

The nut of the plan is the prioritization of arterials, safe routes to school, transit corridors and emergency‑response routes; a stated target of completing an initial response within 24 hours; and procedures for staffing, pre‑season training and communications. Walker Foster said the traffic and streets group typically uses about 20 personnel per shift, can call on other county departments and private contractors when needed and maintains a fleet of 47 pieces of equipment including plows, graders, loaders and tracked “snow rhino” machines.

The plan calls for environmentally mindful deicing practices, including pre‑wetting salt and using magnesium chloride to help activate material more quickly and reduce the total amount applied. Walker Foster said the county prepares roughly 50 tons of material in advance of events and will continue researching other anti‑icing technologies used by peer agencies.

Board members asked how the plan applies to specific local concerns. Member Altier raised DP Road’s current classification as a priority 3 and suggested re‑evaluating it to priority 2 because new housing and increased traffic may require earlier clearing; Eric (county staff) confirmed council recently approved a purchase and sale agreement for additional housing off DP Road and staff said they will revisit the priority mapping. A board member who identified themself as a pilot asked whether airport areas needed specific helicopter landing priorities; staff said airport manager Gary Goddard and county crews coordinate airport snow removal and that non‑runway areas have been supplemented historically by the airport manager.

Several board members raised operational concerns about private vehicles becoming stuck and impeding plow operations. Walker Foster said the plan includes vehicle safety guidance and that county practice is to involve police when vehicles hinder snow removal. The plan also lists community responsibilities such as clearing sidewalks and not pushing snow back onto public streets.

Pre‑season measures described in the presentation include September–November training, operator orientation on new equipment, and participation in the American Public Works Association snow conferences to benchmark practices. Walker Foster said the county has four tracked ride‑on snowplows (referred to as “snow rhinos”) and is hiring new operators this season.

Motion and vote: A motion that the Transportation Board recommend approval of the FY26 Snow and Ice Control Plan was moved and seconded; the motion passed unanimously. Members recorded as present for the vote were Member Chapelle, Member Altier, Member Lisowski, Vice Chair Talley and Chair Hampton.

Next steps and implementation: staff said the snow plan is a living document and can be revised during the season; staff also plans community outreach including a short guide on resident responsibilities and use of public notifications (website, hotline, social media, TV and radio).