This week is National Public Works Week, and to mark the occasion Arlington County has released some crazy stats from its public works division, the Dept. of Environmental Services.
Here’s what the county says DES has done over the past year:
- “Collected some 34,000 tons of trash and another 31,000 tons of recycling curbside”
- “Carried more than 2.8 million passengers on Arlington Transit (ART) bus trips”
- “Paved 92 of the County’s 974 lane miles”
- “Filled 12,100 potholes in 2015, and 4,917 so far in 2016”
- “Cleaned and lined 57,000 linear feet of storm sewer pipe”
- “Fixed 217 water main breaks”
- “Replaced approximately three miles of water mains”
- “Cleaned and lined 2,300 linear feet of water mains”
- “Collected more than 2,300 tons of debris and sediment through street sweeping”
In a press release, the county noted that many of the jobs performed by DES crews took place while the average Arlington resident was sleeping or enjoying their weekend.
“Drinking water, trash, public transit, the sewers, streets and sidewalks rarely take a holiday,” the press release said. “Even County buildings need someone to maintain them, and it’s hard to vacuum or paint during regular business hours.”
Said County Manager Mark Schwartz:
“Every time you leave collection bins at the curb, pause for the crosswalk light or run the tap to brush your teeth, you’re interacting with the County’s Department of Environmental Services.
Sometimes the best work is the work you don’t notice. In Arlington we’re fortunate to have such dedicated, skillful men and women supporting our vital infrastructure.”
File photo