How Planning and Tech Shape Raleigh’s Winter Response

Preparing Days Before the First Flake Falls

Snow and ice response doesn’t start when roads turn white. In many cases, planning begins days in advance. “We’re often making decisions before we have the full forecast,” said Don Hickman, Senior Business System Analyst. “To pretreat roads effectively, we have to start preparing about 72 hours ahead of time.” That preparation includes transitioning trucks to brine equipment, producing thousands of gallons of brine, and coordinating staff schedules, many of whom work overnight shifts. Raleigh treats hundreds of miles of roads, and a full brine cycle can take an entire 12-hour shift to complete.
“Even when there’s uncertainty in the forecast, we still have to commit,” said Jason Holmes, Right of Way Services Manager. “If we wait too long, we lose the opportunity to pretreat, and that puts travel and safety at risk.”

Brine Boss: Cleaner Brine, Smarter Production

Before Brine Boss, staff manually tested brine samples every few minutes to ensure the salt concentration stayed within a narrow range. The process was time-consuming and required additional staffing.

Now, Brine Boss automates the process. “The system constantly samples the brine and adjusts itself,” Hickman said. “It won’t even let us pump brine unless it’s within half a percent of the ideal mixture.”

The result is a more consistent product that uses less salt, reduces runoff, and minimizes environmental impact. It also speeds up production, allowing crews to make thousands of gallons of brine in under an hour and improves safety for staff.

“We’re producing a better product, faster, and in a safer way,” Holmes said. “That benefits both our crews and the public.”

Managing the Storm in Real Time

Once a storm begins, Raleigh mobilizes roughly 175 staff members, including plow drivers, supervisors, mechanics, technology support, landscape crews, and downtown services teams. During major events, that number can grow to nearly 200.

Crews work around the clock in extended shifts to plow snow, apply salt, respond to icy spots, and support transit routes, hospitals, and emergency facilities.

“Winter operations are truly a team effort,” Holmes said. “When snow hits, everyone has one goal: get people back to their daily lives safely.”

After the Storm

Even after snow stops falling, crews continue addressing icy spots, especially in shaded areas and reviewing how each response went.

“No two storms are ever the same,” Holmes said. “Every event teaches us something new.”

Raleigh is also exploring additional tools to track where brine and plows have been deployed, helping improve coverage and decision-making during future storms.

Working Together Through Winter Weather

While many residents stay home during winter storms, Raleigh Transportation crews are out working, often sacrificing weekends, sleep, and time with family to keep the city moving.

“These are long, demanding shifts,” Holmes said. “But our staff shows up every time.”

With smarter tools like Brine Boss and Frost Solutions, Raleigh continues to improve how it prepares for, responds to, and learns from winter weather, all with the goal of keeping residents safer when it matters most.