As the harsh winter months approach, State College and Penn State are prepared to deal with the icy roads and snow-filled sidewalks.

When the snow falls on the 31 miles of road and 23 miles of sidewalk within University Park, the Office of Physical Plant must make sure the campus is cleared and can continue its normal, everyday activities.

"If it's on campus, and you can touch it, we are probably involved in it," said Paul Ruskin, OPP spokesman.

Heavy snowfall can prevent access to many buildings and parking lots on campus. Pedestrians need sidewalks cleared, not only for convenience but also to prevent injuries.

"Public safety is at stake," Ruskin said about the effect of snowstorms in the area. "Carefully thought out plans are activated every time a major storm heads our way."

The 139-member crew of OPP, which clears the snow, performs a lot of cold, exhausting work. There are three teams that perform the different tasks involved in snow removal. Some of the top priorities of the teams include clearing campus roadways, dining hall docks, entrances to University Health Services and bus stops.

A janitorial workforce on campus removes snow in front of entrances, a landscape workforce clears areas between buildings, and a central support crew clears all the roads and parking lots.

There are 14,000 parking spaces on campus, so when a major snowstorm approaches State College in the middle of the night, a "Midnight Clear" is called into effect.

This procedure has been occurring for three years. It requires all cars to evacuate faculty and staff parking lots from midnight to 7 a.m., in order to help facilitate the work of the snowplows. Cars make it difficult for the plows to clear all the snow quickly and efficiently.

"With a moderate snowfall, it may take about six to seven hours, without cars present, to clear all parking lots," Lloyd Rhoades, manager of central services for OPP, said. "The cars really, really impede on snow removal and are a safety hazard for everyone."

Notification of "Midnight Clears" are posted on signs of specific lots as well as in all the brochures that are sent with each purchased parking pass.

Students may receive tickets of $15.00 if their cars are not removed when a "Midnight Clear" is called. Vehicles must remain in designated parking areas, said Jean Harris, parking manager of Transportation Services.

"Everyone needs to pay attention to the radios, the Housing and Food Service Channel, as well as the signs and newspapers on nights when snow is supposed to fall," Ruskin said. "We cannot predict when a 'Midnight Clear' will be called so people need to be aware."

While OPP works to clear snow on campus, the borough is responsible for clearing the roads downtown.

Each fall the State College Borough Public Works holds its annual snow meeting to prepare its crew for the upcoming winter. The crew is refreshed on salting procedures, plowing procedures and "how not to take off mailboxes," said Eric Brooks, operations manager.

A 30-man crew, split into two rotating teams, works 12-hour shifts to ensure easier access around State College. A $150,000 snow removal budget allows for Public Works to disperse, using its four salt trucks, 100 tons of salt and 50 tons of anti-skid abrasive to the streets and sidewalks of the State College community per storm.

"Some have never seen snow let alone driven in it," said Brooks, referring to impatient students whose aggressive driving is a hindrance to the operation of slow-moving salting trucks.

The borough and Penn State work together when a winter crisis arises. State College shares a snow-dumping site with OPP. Public Works will also assist the campus if help is needed, Brooks said.