For generations, assessing snowfighter performance was a virtual monopoly for transportation and public works professionals, with "purse-string-holders" looking over their shoulder. The public might be happy ... or not, but for the most part, they tolerated delinquent or poor quality service.

There were exceptions to be sure. Chicago mayor Michael Bilandic's infamous snowfighting glitch that ended his electoral career is only the most prominent example. Highway users, roadway safety groups and taxpayer advocates, however, were generally patient as crews struggled heroically to clear away ice and snow.

That may be changing. Media headlines in the hard-hit DC area have included: "Snow paralysis has cost too much " and "Mayor Fenty fails the snow test ."

DC isn't the only place it's snowed, however. Today, the Illinois Policy Institute released a report assessing snowfighting effectiveness in Chicago; it is entitled "Ready for the Snow? Gauging Illinois’s performance on a critical core service ." After recounting the Bilandic episode, the report continues:

People expect clear roads during wintertime – and they want the roads cleared in a timely fashion. If government fails to meet expectations, it does not go unnoticed. In the winter of 2008-2009, Chicago cut overtime services, leaving side roads iced over for days.

Chicagoans were not happy. For the 2009-2010 winter season, Mayor Richard Daley outlined plans to avoid previous mistakes and has committed to keeping the roads safe and clear. Chicago’s Street and Sanitation Department’s 2009 personnel budget for snow removal is $6 million.

The Illlinois Policy Institute report makes a strong defense of snowfighting investments and quotes approvingly from agencies around the state with high levels of winter road maintenance service.

Budgeting for snow removal sits near the top of the priority list for local governments around Illinois; Sangamon County Highway Engineer Tim Zahrn noted, “That’s the first thing we budget for; that’s our primary responsibility.” Officials in the state capital city of Springfield say they “will deploy whatever resources are needed on a storm-by-storm basis.”

IPI calls for new performance standards for snow and ice control operations.It’s no secret snow causes car accidents.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, every year the following occurs:

• 24 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy or icy pavement.

• 15 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes happen during snowfall or sleet.

• Over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle crashes on snowy, slushy or icy pavement.

Budgeting for road clearing during winter season is a top priority and major budget item for state and local government. Preparation is key for combating winter storms, and once the storm arrives, local and state governments need to hold themselves accountable by implementing snow removal performance standards. In order to measure snow removal standards, state and local governments can set up a metric system to gauge good or poor performance.

And the metric it endorses is truly cast in terms of delivering service on winter roads for roadway users.

1. How well was snow removal and salting maintained during the snowstorm?
2. How many accidents occurred because of weather conditions?
3. How was travel time affected because of the snow?
4. At which point were main and side roads clear after the snowstorm stopped?

These are the very questions that snowfighting managers have been grappling with for years. It's nice to see the public paying more attention to its snowfighting investment -- usually the largest single roadway operating budget item for a snowbelt road agency.

Congratulations to the Illinois Policy Institute for its outstanding advocacy on behalf of winter safety and mobility.