California State Agencies and Tourism Organizations Come Together to Support Safe Travel During Snow Season

The Voice of Chandigarh News

As the winter travel season kicks off across California, leaders from the state’s tourism, transportation and traffic safety organizations met to prepare destinations for winter weather and address solutions to keep travelers safe and informed. 

Co-hosted by Visit California and the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), the annual “Snow Summit” meeting brought together leadership from California ski industry and officials from the CalSTA, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to collaborate on a unified, strategic approach for responsible winter travel during the 2024-25 snow season. 

“As we welcome visitors to our world-class mountain destinations for the winter season, ensuring travelers can experience California’s winter playground safely is a top priority,” said Caroline Beteta, president & CEO of Visit California. “By coming together, tourism and highway safety agencies are creating a unified approach to address winter challenges, keep roads clear and support the unforgettable experiences that make our snow season so special.” 

Following two consecutive years of significant snowfall, Snow Summit participants are prioritizing the broad public dissemination of timely information, smart precautions and best practices for winter travelers. 

The coalition identified several critical focus areas and key findings as snow season begins: 

• Climate Change Adaptation. The increasing frequency of wildfires is causing a rise in landslides and erosion events during the wet season. Keeping the roads open in the winter is no longer just about planning for snow but preparing staff and equipment for managing the interactive effects of fires, floods, slides, as well as the snow and ice.
• Coordination Improving Outcomes. State agencies and ski resorts are moving towards year-round collaboration. This includes preseason planning activities in advance of the snow season, regular coordination meetings over the winter, and ongoing dialogue on best practices and lessons-learned from the past season throughout the offseason. The result has been significant improvement on the ground in coordinating communications and snow removal activities. 
• Sufficient Staffing and Equipment. Adequate equipment strategically located along key routes and a trained workforce to operate and maintain the equipment is essential to responding to snow events. Several Caltrans districts reported that long-awaited snow removal equipment had arrived. Caltrans districts also report being well-positioned for the winter thanks to programs like their maintenance equipment training academy for new hires. 
• Timely Public Communication. The top priority for all parties is equipping travelers with the information they need to be safe during the snow season. “Know before you go” resources inform motorists how to prepare and drive responsibly in the snow and during storm events. Online resources, such as the QuickMaps app from Caltrans and CHP social media accounts (e.g., @chp_truckee on Instagram), provide the most current information on road conditions so drivers can adjust their routes accordingly.

CalSTA, which oversees California’s extensive road, rail and water transportation systems, is collaborating with resorts and local officials to address challenges posed by winter driving conditions. 

“Winter in California is a highly anticipated period for people from around the globe to enjoy all our great state has to offer, including the beautiful snow-capped Sierra mountains,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “Our transportation teams know a successful winter is one that helps to ensure safe travel for every individual and a continued thriving economy for winter-related industries and local businesses.” 

“Safe driving helps prevent crashes, and CHP officers are vital in discouraging unsafe behavior,” stated CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “As winter weather leads to hazardous conditions, we encourage drivers to prepare by carrying chains and emergency supplies, and to drive cautiously. We will increase visible patrols during peak ski traffic times to promote responsible driving.” 

Caltrans will continue to provide valuable insights on managing snow-related road closures, current infrastructure projects, and real-time updates to help travelers stay informed. 

“Safety is Caltrans’s top priority, and we take great pride in making our roadways safe and navigable for motorists during ever-changing and unpredictable travel conditions,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “Our crews are prepared to work around the clock to keep highways open whenever possible for Californians and visitors planning to recreate in our majestic mountain regions. We encourage travelers to exercise safe driving habits that respect fellow motorists and help protect the safety of maintenance crews, chain installers, and other emergency personnel.”

The Caltrans QuickMap web page (quickmap.dot.ca.gov) displays real-time traffic information, including traffic speed, lane and road closures due to construction and maintenance activities, incident reports, Changeable Message Sign (CMS) content, camera snapshots, and active chain control requirements.

Ski resorts have also introduced online tools to help improve traffic during the snow seasons. This season, Kirkwood joins Heavenly, Northstar, and Palisades Tahoe in offering a reservations-based parking system for visitors to help elevate the overall visitor experience while alleviating traffic congestion and mitigating other traffic-related challenges.

To prepare visitors before they reach the resort, the California Ski Industry Association (Ski California) and its member resorts offer a digital Mountain Safety Guide that provides visitors a common set of guidelines on how to ski and snowboard at California and Nevada ski resorts. 

“The partnership between mountain resorts and state agencies, especially at the regional level, has dramatically improved coordination and increased timely visitor communications,” said John Rice, the newly announced president of Ski California. “Together, we are working closer than ever to ensure guests arrive safely and enjoy an outstanding snow experience.” 

With more than 30 ski resorts and one of North America’s longest ski seasons, California is the ultimate winter destination, offering endless opportunities to experience downhill, cross-country and backcountry adventures.

Visit California will share important mountain safety tips, travel information and updates on new offerings at alpine destinations across its websites and social channels throughout the season.