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Raleigh Leaders Discuss Ways To Prevent Snowfall Gridlock

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh City Council members spent Tuesday, talking about problems the city had during a small snowfall that led to chaos in the city two weeks ago.

City Manager Russell Allen gave City Council members a brief overview of his meeting last week with city, county, state and school officials. While Allen did not offer any specifics, Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker did bring up one suggestion to ease traffic jams.

"Some kind of phasing of people going home. School children have priority, but we're in a situation where we have all the office workers stay until the roads are clear," he said.

Clearing roads will be a higher priority. Meeker also suggested budget increases for more equipment.

"This is one of those things where it's got our attention. Now, we can learn from it and we really have got to do a much better job than what happened 13 days ago," he said.

Meeker also suggested a solution to the traffic jam on the phone lines. He wants some kind of bad weather mandate to keep people from using their cell phones unless it is an emergency. Allen will offer suggestions of his own in a written report due out later this week.

Also, Tuesday's meeting was the first with two new council members. Tommy Craven and Joyce Kekas replace Neal Hunt and Janet Cowell, who left for the state Senate. Craven and Kekas will serve until December.

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