Butler Streets Department crews had a better handle on their winter-maintenance duties in the downtown Wednesday morning than what state Department of Transportation crews displayed around the city.

By 9 a.m., for example, the Mercer Street downslope in the vicinity of Pine and Wood streets was in good shape, as were other streets carrying traffic to and from the Main Street corridor.

Caution still had to be the watchword for motorists, but city travelers didn't encounter dangerous travel conditions similar to what existed on hilly and level state roadways around the city.

While city crews have a different scope of work than state crews, there are challenges on many of the city's narrow, steep streets that state crews do not encounter.

City crews showed they were capable of getting the job done and keeping the to-work traffic moving Wednesday morning, despite continuing snowfall. Non-city motorists were understandably wondering how the financially challenged city was able to perform so well while PennDOT, with a much stronger financial, supply and equipment base, rated a "D" for its lackluster performance.

That's a good question.