ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – Crews will begin clearing roads at night in the City of Ithaca this weekend.

The Department of Public Works Streets & Facilities division is switching to winter maintenance night shifts this Sunday. Until the snow comes, they’ll work to clear leaves in the street from existing tree canopies. Residents are asked not to rake leaves from their yards into roadways and reminded that the city does a yard waste pickup every other week opposite curbside recycling. Brown bags with yard waste tags can be placed at the curb from April through December. Officials say fall foliage is the biggest cause of local flooding, and sweeping leaves from the street is essential to maintaining the stormwater system.