Providence’s Rented Snow Removal Equipment Costs $405,888 Per Day

Providence’s Rented Snow Removal Equipment Costs $405,888 Per Day

The City of Providence is renting snow removal equipment, and the cost per piece ranges from $245 to $899 per hour, GoLocal has learned.

In total, the Smiley administration is renting 56 pieces of heavy machinery. The machinery is running 24/7, according to Smiley's office.

The cost per day is $405,888.  And, that is not the only cost.

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The industrial snow remover also requires three Providence Police cruisers for details to close and open streets. Other vehicles require police details too.

The city refuses to disclose its estimate of the total cost.

 

Here is How the Costs Breakdown:

“The City has secured four industrial snow blowers, 48 dump trucks, and four bulldozers that are hauling snow in four quadrants of the city. These vendors do not have a fixed daily rate, but below are the hourly rates,” said Mayor Brett Smiley’s spokesperson, Josh Estrella.

 

• The industrial snow remover is $899 per hour. There are a total of four of these vehicles. $28,768 per 8-hours

 

• The trailer dump trucks are $245 per hour. There are a total of 48 of those trucks. $94,080 per 8-hours

 

• The bulldozers are $389 per hour. There are a total of four of those vehicles. $12,448 per 8-hour shift

 

Estrella said the City does not know the total cost. "The City will have a total estimate for this vendor once their work is complete," said Estrella.

Smiley's administration was been widely criticized for the late January storm by residents, small business owners, and members of the City Council for the poor response.

Many, if not all, Providence streets were poorly plowed. Adding insult to injury, some business owners and homeowners failed to properly clear their sidewalks. While residents were fuming about the failed cleanup, Smiley left the City to attend a conference in Washington, D.C.

The city ordinance requires sidewalks to be cleared 36 inches so those with disabilities can pass. The city cites few for failure to clear sidewalks, issuing fewer than 80 citations.