To schedule in-person meetings with DPW&T staff, please call 301-475-4200, ext 3527.
To schedule an appointments with the Transportation/STS/Vehicle Maintenance staff, please call 301-475-4200 ext. 1120
Street Sweeping and Vacuuming
The Street-Sweeping program was initiated by the Department in the Spring of 1999. This program is designed to: remove winter abrasives from the roadway surface; improve appearance and safety; reduce maintenance costs; remove storm related debris from the travel-ways; clean out the drainage-ways to assure positive drainage; and reduce pollutants from entering the Chesapeake Bay. An unusually mild winter coupled with minimal use of abrasives and a "wet" spring often preclude the need for street-sweeping. Roadways are monitored by Highway Foremen and prioritized through a rotating weekly schedule between the four (4) maintenance service areas. To request this service, contact the County Highways Division at (301) 475-4200 or fill out our on-line
Maintenance Request Form. Goals Keep curbs, gutters and streets clean; prevent storm pipes, inlets and roadside ditches from becoming clogged; assist with capital and maintenance construction and repair projects; control loose stones ![]() Equipment A vacuum truck was purchased in the Fall of 1998 and became operational in April 1999. The services are planned to extend to the ramps, aprons, parking lots, taxiways and runway of the St. Mary’s County Airport. Revenues may also be received through the rental of the unit to other jurisdictions for use in their maintenance programs. The County Highways Division ![]() Levels of Service The program is designed to have four (4) levels of service: Level 1-Heavily developed commercial and central business districts with considerable vehicular and pedestrian traffic; Level 2-Neighborhood business districts and village centers with moderate ![]() Leaf Collection The need to further develop this program to include a residential leaf collection program will be assessed in the future. The efficiency of cleaning roadside ditches and removing storm debris from the travel-ways will be immediately realized. The vehicle will equipped with a "snoot" which has the ability to un-clog culverts and storm drain systems. At present, residents are directed to the St. Andrew’s landfill facility where yard waste and leaf collection debris is accepted. The material is ground into mulch and predominantly used as a topsoil/field dressing in the roadway maintenance effort. Water Supply In accordance with Chapter 113-11(d) of the Code of Public Local Laws of St. Mary's County, the Department of Public Works & Transportation has been authorized by the Metropolitan Commission to withdraw fire hydrant water. The use of hydrant water and meter assembly requires written authority through the issuance of a Tri-Annual Water Use Permit by the Commission's Engineering Department. A monthly meter reading is phoned into the Commission by ![]() On August 27, 1999 the Department received approval from the Metropolitan Commission ( Effluent Permit #SM9955004) to use recycled treated wastewater for its highway maintenance vacuum truck and hydroseeding operations. This cooperative effort was in direct response to the statewide drought conditions declared by the Governor. |