Category: Public Infrastructure Services

Snow & Ice Management for Colorado Municipalities: Keeping Communities Safe All Winter

Published on by Jackson Holliday

Colorado winters are beautiful—but for municipalities, they also bring months of safety risks, unpredictable storms, and increased pressure to keep roadways, walkways, and public spaces clear. Effective snow and ice management isn’t just about reacting to the next storm; it’s about planning ahead, prioritizing safety, and ensuring essential public services stay operational no matter what the weather brings.

Below is a comprehensive overview of how Colorado municipalities can strengthen their winter readiness and keep their communities moving.

1. Proactive Seasonal Planning

Before the first snowfall, Colorado municipalities should conduct a full evaluation of their snow-response strategy. Key pre-season tasks include:

  • Assessing priority routes (schools, emergency services, major intersections, bus routes)

  • Updating snow maps and response plans based on new construction or community growth

  • Restocking salt, sand, de-icer, and gravel supplies

  • Inspecting and preparing equipment—plows, loaders, spreaders, and brine systems

A proactive start ensures crews aren’t caught off guard when the first storm hits.

2. Storm Response & Real-Time Coordination

Winter weather in Colorado can change rapidly. A strong municipal plan includes:

  • 24/7 on-call teams for surprise storms

  • Real-time communication systems, such as weather tracking, GPS, and digital routing

  • Flexible staffing models for multi-day storm events

  • Rapid deployment protocols to clear priority routes before conditions worsen

Improved communication and faster response times help municipalities prevent traffic disruptions and reduce accident risks.

3. Sidewalks, Trails & Public Spaces

Municipal responsibilities extend far beyond roadways. Parks, sidewalks, public buildings, parking lots, and pedestrian corridors also require attention during snow and ice events.

Municipal crews or contracted services should:

  • Plow and de-ice sidewalks and ADA routes

  • Clear public facility entrances and parking areas

  • Maintain park trails and recreational areas used year-round

  • Apply eco-friendly ice-melt products when needed

This ensures safe access for residents, employees, and emergency personnel.

4. Sustainable & Cost-Effective Ice Management

Colorado’s freeze–thaw cycles can create ongoing ice challenges. To stay efficient and environmentally responsible, municipalities are increasingly adopting:

  • Liquid brine pretreatment to reduce salt usage and improve traction

  • Smart spreader systems to apply precise de-icer amounts

  • Sand vs. salt optimization for steep grades and rural routes

  • Eco-friendly, non-corrosive ice-melt products in sensitive areas

Sustainability and cost-savings go hand-in-hand when winter operations are optimized.

5. Protecting Municipal Infrastructure

Heavy snow and ice can take a toll on public property. Preparing and protecting infrastructure reduces costly damage:

  • Tree pruning and hazard tree removal to prevent storm-related failures

  • Storm drain clearing to reduce pooling and ice formation

  • Asphalt and concrete inspections to address cracks before freeze–thaw expansion

  • Parking lot grading and drainage checks

A well-maintained landscape withstands winter more effectively, keeping municipal assets safe.

6. Communication With Residents

Clear and consistent communication helps reduce calls, complaints, and safety issues. Municipalities benefit from:

  • Issuing storm alerts and snow-route reminders

  • Sharing plow route maps and priority zones

  • Encouraging residents to report hazards

  • Posting real-time updates on delays, closures, and road conditions

With the right communication strategy, residents feel informed and supported throughout the winter season.

Terracare and E-470 Public Highway Authority Expand Their Partnership

Published on by Jackson Holliday

E-470 Public Highway Authority is a 75-mph tollway that forms a 47-mile semi-circular beltway around the eastern edge of the Denver metropolitan area. The tollway provides access to Denver International Airport and connects in the south to the I-25/C-470 interchange in Douglas County, and runs to the I-25/Northwest Parkway interchange (a current client) in Adams County to the north.

Terracare has had a relationship with the Authority since the inception of the tollway and is the current roadside mowing provider. At the beginning of the year, E-470 began the process of selecting a new snow provider. Through this relationship with E-470, Terracare is excited to announce that we will be expanding our services to the Authority and will be their snow provider for the next 10 years with the potential for an additional 10 years!

The combination of E-470 and the Northwest Parkway interchange means that Terracare will be providing snow maintenance for over half of the loop around the Denver Metro area! We are looking forward to providing safe and clear roads for the next 10 years!

Expanding Our Infrastructure Footprint

Published on by Jackson Holliday

Within the flourishing community of Lafayette, California, public works encompasses many highly visible and trafficked spaces such as six parks (one as large as 68 acres), all roadways, signs, right of ways, landscaped common areas, and medians.

For over 20 years, the City of Lafayette, CA outsourced their public works to one company. On July 1st, that changed! Terracare’s Infrastructure team (a Monarch Company) is pleased to begin a new contract and partnership with the city to provide all they need for public works. It’s now Terracare’s responsibility to keep vehicles and people safe and moving from one part of town to next. Our team will be responding quickly to infrastructure emergencies whether it’s downed trees, harmful potholes or a traffic light outage. Our great work creates a beautiful and well-kept environment that gives residents a sense of pride in their community.

Terracare is currently on the ground in Lafayette, serving the community each day and following through on our promise to the city and its residents. We are excited to collaborate with the City of Lafayette as we strive to build relationships, beautify grounds and maintain their infrastructure.

Understanding Snow and Ice Removal Contracts

Published on by Jackson Holliday

Budgeting for snow and ice removal can be challenging. Some winters are one snowstorm after another, while others can be extremely dry. Because of the fluctuating amounts of precipitation each winter, it may seem hard to make the best decision for your snow and ice removal needs. Terracare understands these challenges and has the right contract for your needs. We offer four unique contracts that allow our clients to select the best fee structure that meets both their needs and budget. Below is a description of these snow and ice contracts to simplify the process.

Hourly

This type of contract is for property managers that just want to pay for when it does snow. If there is no accumulation then the clients are not billed. However, when it does snow, our crews will be on-call and will be dispatched accordingly. The rate for this approach involves the two parties coming to a mutually agreed upon hourly rate, prior to the snow season.

Pay Per-Push

This type of contract is for property managers that just want to pay for when it does snow. If there is no accumulation then the clients are not billed. However, when it does snow our crews will be on-call and will be dispatched accordingly. This contract also allows the client to set a fixed amount of snow whether it be any snow at all or a couple of inches before we send our crews out. The benefit of this contract is that if the client believes the winter is going to be particularly dry than they save the money that would have been spent on a fixed contract. The risk of pay per-push is if there is large amount of accumulation then you will be paying for each snowstorm that year. There also is a delay because the crews are on-call instead on on-site.

Lump Sum Price

A lump sum price is usually the safest contract to decide upon. It allows the client to pay a fixed amount per month and no matter how much or how little it snows, our crews will be there. Many clients love having a fixed amount because they do not have to worry about the price fluctuating throughout the season. The bill is always the same. In addition, another beneficial aspect is that we will have crews on-site at the property. Whenever it snows you can feel at ease knowing the snow will be cleared without delay.

Hybrid

The last contract that we offer is a combination of these approaches. A hybrid contract allows the client to set a base limit of hours that they pay for up front and then after that limit is reached they switch to the pay per-push contract. This contract is valuable to clients that want to make sure they have our crews on-site and available in case a storm does happens. Clients that usually utilize this contract are larger such as cities or municipalities.

What’s next?

Take time now to plan and be prepared. Let Terracare do the rest. Our snow and ice removal experts at Terracare have a vast amount of knowledge and experience. If you have any other, questions about snow and ice removal or want more information on which contract best fits your needs feel free to reach out to us.

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5 Amazing Trees for Your Parking Lot or Streetscape

Published on by Jackson Holliday

Choosing the right tree for your parking lot or paved area can be a very daunting yet important task. Hardy trees are imperative and need to be able to withstand the baking sun and lack of or excess of moisture in a parking lot environment. The addition of the right type of tree can benefit your property’s parking lot or streetscape. An appropriate tree will not only improve the overall appearance, but also can help reduce storm water drainage problems and prevent soil erosion. Below are five great options to try in your parking lot or streetscape.

Elm

Up until the 1930s, the elm tree was the most popular tree for streets and parking lots. Around that time, Dutch elm disease struck causing turmoil for countless elm trees. Presently, the elm tree is making a comeback! Researchers have developed cultivators, which allow the tree to be more resistant to the disease. In addition to now being disease resistant, these trees are also very tolerant to any salt from your roads or parking lots.

Crepe Myrtle

This vibrant tree is a great option for your parking lot. These trees range from red, pink or white blooming flower clusters, which will brighten up any parking lot. Parking lots are also notorious for being hot. Heat reflects off the asphalt making it very hard on trees. Crepe myrtle trees fortunately can thrive in this heat. They have the ability to flourish in drought conditions, which is good for parking lots with storm water drainage problems.

Zelkova

The zelkova tree can grow up to 60 feet and forms a beautiful vase-like shape with a rounded crown. In the fall zelkova trees also have a beautiful, rusty red and orange color that will truly add to the appeal of your property. This tree flourishes in parking lots or other paved areas because of its high tolerance for wind, pollution and drought conditions.

Linden

Another beautiful option are the Linden trees with their dense canopies and fragrant flowers. This canopy produces amazing shade for anyone entering and exiting your parking lot. Furthermore, linden trees have the ability to tolerate a wide variety of hostile conditions such as pollution, compacted soil and parking lots with poor drainage.

 

 

Scholar tree

The scholar tree grows from 40 to 50 feet in height and displays beautiful white or yellow flowers in the summer. These trees thrive in sunny, heated locations and can tolerate polluted city conditions, salt, alkaline soil, and moderate drought.

Great weather, here is how to take advantage

Published on by Jackson Holliday

We have been experiencing very interesting weather across the United States. In locations such as Colorado, there has been significantly less snow than normal. Take advantage of this weather, and getting in front of any issues that might have occurred to your roads or parking lot. Below are three crucial areas that should be addressed to help preserve the look and life of your pavement.

Sweeping and Cleaning

First impressions are important, when clients and customers are walking into your building; one feature that always stands out is the cleanliness. A clean parking lot can be a reflection of your organization and can directly shape the perception of your brand. On top of that, maintaining a clean parking lot can also minimize pollution, deter rodents or other pest and prevent erosion. To provide your clientele with a well-kept environment, schedule a routine cleaning including regular trash pickup, sweeping and power washing.

Crack Sealing Repairs

Early intervention is crucial in preserving your pavement and saving you money. When your pavement has a crack in it, moisture can seep down. This causes problems such as further cracking or widening in the pavement, potholes and potentially a major pavement failure. These problems can be very detrimental and extremely costly. We recommend crack sealing, which is the method of cleaning, drying with a heat lance and filling pavement with a hot melted rubberized material.

Pothole Repairs

A pothole occurs when your pavement has a structural failure in it. This can be caused by several issues such as water weakening the soil underneath your pavement, traffic applying pressure or stress from on top or a bad sub-surface. Eventually a breaking point will happen and this will cause the formation of a pothole in your pavement. This issue needs to be addressed quickly to prevent spreading, which will make the situation worse.  The best solution is to dig out the affected area, replace the road base, and then replace with hot mix asphalt.

What’s Next?

Does your parking lot or road require attention? Our experts at Terracare would be glad to help! Please click below and let us know how we may best serve your needs.

 

Schedule an Appointment.

Tips for Driving Safely with Snowplows

Published on by Jackson Holliday

Winter is just around the corner. Municipalities, cities, DOTs, and others are gearing up for the winter by preparing their snowplow crews and equipment. We can all learn valuable lessons from these agencies by preparing our vehicles and ourselves for the upcoming season.

Snowplows serve to make the community and roads passable during the worst winter weather. Snowplows are fitted with heavy, wide plows on the front of the truck to clear as much snow and ice from the road as possible – this means sometimes they may cross the center line, shoulder of the road or make other moves in their effort to provide a driving surface the general public can navigate. If you encounter a plow, slow down and give them the space they need to perform their task. Your best chance to arrive at your destination safely is to stay behind the plow as the worst of the conditions are in front of the plow. It’s important that everyone, from individual drivers to plow operators, stay safe on the road to get home safely so here are some tips.

Prepare your vehicle

It is good practice to maintain your vehicle year round, however it is especially important to winterize your vehicle to avoid the dangers of frigid winter weather.

Check the following before snow begins to fall:

  • Wiper blades and windshield washer fluid
  • Battery
  • Ignition system
  • Antifreeze
  • Brakes
  • Electrical system
  • Tires
  • Heater and defrost system

Additionally, it’s recommended to carry blankets, booster cable, a flashlight and extra batteries, snow scraper and shovel.

When driving:

  • snowplowGive snowplows room to do their job. It’s best practice to not tailgate or try to pass a snowplow while it’s in working.
  • As a general rule, stay at least 200 feet behind a snowplow.
  • Plows pushing snow can create a cloud which can blind drivers who are following too closely.
  • These are large, heavy vehicles and the drivers are intent on their task at hand, don’t be another distraction to the plow driver. They cannot stop in a short distance.
  • There may be spreaders on trucks to distribute salt or sand on the road, these can cause damage to cars if driving too close, stay back to protect your car and you.
  • Always turn on your headlights, and have plenty of fuel and wiper fluid (carrying an extra gallon is a good idea) and have appropriate tires for winter driving conditions.
  • Don’t over estimate your braking capabilities, many 4 X 4 vehicles are heavier than normal, thus the braking distance is greater. Your traction is determined by weight and tire tread. Sand or cat litter in your trunk will add weight and can be used if you do need help with traction.
  • Leave extra space between you and the vehicles in front and behind you.
  • Bridge decks freeze first so take extra caution when driving on these.
  • Remember to always buckle up!
  • Ignore the phone and email until you get to your destination. There are other people on the road that deserve your attention.
  • Most importantly, SLOW DOWN!
It is not too late to get help with your snow removal needs. Send us a note or give us a call, we’ll get back to you with a proposal and estimate for how we can help you.

What is a Public-Private Partnership?

Published on by Jackson Holliday

A public-private partnership (P3) is a funding model for public infrastructure projects such as new airports, waste water treatment plants and new roadways.

The government at a local, state and/or national level make up a public partner. On the other hand, privately-owned business, public corporation or consortium of businesses with a specific area of expertise are what factor into a private partnership.

P3 arrangements are useful for large projects that require highly-skilled workers and a significant cash outlay to get started. They are also useful in countries that require the state to legally own any infrastructure that serves the public.

Different models of P3 funding are characterized by which partner is responsible for owning and maintaining assets at different stages of the project. Below are a couple of examples of types of projects that Terracare Associates has participated in some form:

Design-Build (DB)

The private-sector partner designs and builds the infrastructure to meet the public-sector partner’s specifications, often for a fixed price. The private-sector partner assumes all risk.

CentennialOperation & Maintenance Contract (O & M)

The private-sector partner, under contract, operates a publicly-owned asset for a specific period of time. The public partner retains ownership of the assets. Our partnership with CH2M-Hill and the City of Centennial Public works department, which just became the first accredited P3 of its time, is an example of this type of arrangement.

The primary value of the P3 model comes from delivering a needed project more efficiently and at less risk for the public entity.

Using Denver as an example, CDOT has been able to complete an expansion of Highway 36 between Boulder and the I-25 corridor using private sector funding in exchange for an arrangement on tolling fees. This model has proven itself successful enough that the same type of model is being used for the eventual I-70 expansion project.

Another large scale Denver area project is the connection of Denver International Airport to downtown Denver via a monorail going from the airport to downtown Denver. This project was started first by a public-private arrangement and finished through support by the federal government with large funding to finish the project.

Our P3 experts on staff at Terracare are available for a P3 consultation with your team throughout the United States. Contact us today for more information on this innovative approach to public works requirements.

The City of Centennial Public Works Department Earns Accreditation

Published on by Jackson Holliday

Centennial-SignIn 2008, the City of Centennial launched a large-scale public private partnership with CH2M, and Terracare Associates was selected as a subcontractor to perform comprehensive public works maintenance for the city. Of the almost 40,000 municipalities, townships and county governments in the U.S., Centennial’s public works department became the 119th accredited public works agency and the first public-private partnership public works agency in the U.S.

The maintenance Terracare Associates provides includes street maintenance, sign maintenance and installation, snow removal, tree maintenance and removal, traffic signal maintenance, erosion control, street sweeping, trash and debris removal, and maintenance of the award-winning Centennial Center Park.

“It is a real honor to be a contributor to this accreditation. I could not be more proud of our team working every day to ensure the citizens of Centennial are safe and the city looks its best,” said Justin Stewart, Vice President of Public Infrastructure for Terracare Associates.

The accreditation process is no easy feat. There are 40 chapters and 608 sub-chapters in the accreditation process in public works, 360 of those applicable to Centennial. CH2M and the city wanted to demonstrate that the city was compliant with the accreditation requirements for each applicable sub-chapter. To do so, they provided documentation of city policies backed up by actual processes and associated work proofs related to each individual accreditation service area.

“This is a milestone for our city. Meeting the criteria for this accreditation confirms we have been moving in the right direction since the city was formed,” said Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon.

The accreditation program aims to promote self-improvement within an organization; offer an evaluation and education program; recognize exemplary performance; improve public works performance and delivery of services; increase professionalism; and instill pride among agency staff, elected officials and the local community.

Parking Lot Repairs That Will Improve Your Property Value

Published on by Jackson Holliday

Spring has made an early appearance and that’s a great excuse to get outside and walk your parking areas to determine what needs should be addressed. As a commercial property owner, a sound facilities management and maintenance program is a necessity to keep the value and appearance of the facility at its best. Maintaining a parking lot can seem daunting, but it is a necessary task. The parking lot is the first impression your customers are presented. It should be clean, easy to navigate and free of asphalt defects.

Here are some types of maintenance services you should be looking to be provided:

Cleaning:

Regular trash pickup, sweeping and power washing will help keep the parking area neat and attractive. Potential customers will not have to worry about driving or walking amongst discarded cans, containers or other debris from the “less than considerate” folks that will come through the facility.

Potholes and asphalt repairs:pothole

Once asphalt deterioration begins, it can progress quickly. These areas should be addressed as soon as possible to reduce the overall affected area in need of repair. A poor condition parking lot is a direct reflection on the business.

 

 

Seal Coating:

The application of an asphalt sealant not only keeps the parking lot looking new, it helps prevent the degradation of the asphalt surface. The sealant repels the damage of day-to-day exposure from the environment, such as UV rays, water, salts, spilled fuel, etc.

Crack sealing:

This is the biggest bang for your buck in maintenance processes. Any crack in the parking surface presents an opportunity for water to infiltrate and begin the process of creating a compromise in the integrity of the pavement. This is the beginning of the menace called potholes.

asphalt repairReplacement:

When you have an area that just falls apart: the real solution is to remove and replace it. Temporary fixes just prolong the inevitable. Have it dug up, recondition the base and then re-install the pavement. The new asphalt should then become part of a regular maintenance plan to prevent a repeat scenario.

 

If there is one thing to remember, it is that maintenance must be done at a planned regular sequence to prolong the longevity of the pavement and enhance the property appearance and value.