For Immediate Release

Monday, December 21, 2009

Arlington County Government to Open on Time Tuesday, Dec. 22

• County opens hotline for pressing snow-related service needs
• Crews continue plowing main roads and around critical community facilities
• Help make sidewalks safe
• Check gutters and drains to prevent damage to your home

ARLINGTON, Va. – Arlington County Government will open on time, at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, as the County continues clean-up efforts in the wake of the weekend snow storm.  The County today opened a hotline to address pressing snow-related service needs.

Call the Environmental Service call center at 703-228-6570 between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. to speak with a representative, or email des (at) arlingtonva.us The call center will resume normal hours on Tuesday - weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Please note that staffing is limited – we will take your call as soon as we can. Contact 911 if you have a health or safety emergency.

All County offices and facilities will be open Tuesday, including libraries, swimming pools and community centers. Check the County Website for opening times, for frequent updates on snow removal operations and for information on closings and cancellations. Arlington Public Schools announced Monday afternoon that schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and administrative offices will be open.

Plowing County Roads

Road crews continue to work in 12-hour shifts around the clock to clear County-maintained streets.

“I toured neighborhoods from north Arlington to south Arlington today and I can say that crews are making real progress, given the huge amount of snow,” said Board Chairman Barbara Favola. “More work needs to be done, and our crews will continue to work round-the-clock. We appreciate the patience our community is showing as we work through this.”

When plowing roads, the County focuses first on: snow emergency routes, major streets, main bus routes, and roads to hospitals, fire stations, Metro stations, and the police station. We continue to clear priority routes and are currently working on residential routes.

Visit the County web site to view maps of the Snow Plow Routes and see how the roadways are prioritized. There are 60 miles each of arterial and collector streets and 256 miles of residential streets. We are making progress throughout County.  Because of the hilly terrain Sections A, C, and D on these maps are often difficult to serve and take longer to clear.

Safety

Leave at least 100 feet of distance between your vehicle and snow plows. Sledding and playing in the streets is dangerous due to moving vehicles and snow plowing efforts. If you have to walk in the street, wear reflective clothing and walk along the edge, not in the center. Remember that vehicles are less manageable on snow-covered streets.

Trash and Recycling Collection

Trash and recycling pickups scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have been cancelled, because it is too difficult for the large, heavy trucks to navigate residential streets. Trash and recycling normally picked up on Monday, Dec. 22, Tues. Dec. 23 and Wed., Dec. 24 will be picked up on Mon., Dec. 28, Tues., Dec. 29, and Wed., Dec. 30. Residents are asked to help keep the roads clear for vehicles. Do not place trash or recycling receptacles out at the curb until 7 a.m. on the collection date. By keeping the trash receptacles off the curb until the morning, snow removal efforts can proceed more quickly.

Residential Snow Removal

Residents and local business owners should clear the sidewalks in front of their property, an important contribution to snow removal efforts. 

Don’t forget to protect your home from potential leaks and flooding. Check your roof, gutters and drains for ice dams and remove blockages to ensure proper drainage in and around your house.

Taking Public Transit

If you need to travel in the County or region today or tomorrow, please take public transit if possible in order to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles and plows. Metrorail and Metrobus are close to normal operations today in Arlington.  Arlington Transit (ART) is operating on a Saturday schedule today and will have normal service on most routes Tuesday. Sign up for ART Alerts about specific routes on the ART Website. The Call Center will be open and clients should call for more information. STAR (Specialized Transit for Arlington Residents) will have limited service on Tuesday. The STAR Call Center also will be open tomorrow and riders can call 703-228-8747 for more information.

Check the County Website for frequent updates on snowfighting efforts and the status of County services. 

Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.