Environmental Services
Snow Removal in Arlington County
*** Snow Operations Update 02/25/2010 - Crews Responding to Latest Winter Weather Event ***
Snow crews have been on duty since midnight and ready to respond to this latest winter storm as needed. Though forecasts called for one to three inches of snow in Arlington, most of the precipitation has melted on contact with road surfaces or has been in the form of rain.
Drivers and trucks will remain on standby as there is still a possibility for snow later today and into the evening hours. However, some crews will be reassigned to resume pothole repairs while the weather cooperates.
We appreciate your understanding through what has been a record-breaking winter for the region.
- Arlington County Board Directs Manager to Prepare Permanent Snow Removal Ordinance
- Snow Removal by the Numbers - see the numbers of people and equipment that have been working for you.
- County Contractors and Emergency Crews provide critical support.
- Snow plows at times throw snow back into driveways or onto sidewalks that have been shoveled. This is unavoidable.
- View Snow Plow Routes and see how roadways are prioritized. The County maintains 60 miles each of arterial and collector streets and 256 miles of residential streets.
- Check out the County’s video on the people behind Arlington’s snow removal efforts.
Residents can get snow service updates by calling 703-228-6485. Or send snowplow inquiries or comments to snow@arlingtonva.us. Make sure to include your street address, intersection and block number and they’ll be forwarded to snow operations team.
Snow Plowing Priorities
- During snowfall, snow crews concentrate only on keeping main arteries passable for emergency vehicles and public transportation (view the snow plowing map). This includes snow emergency routes, arterial streets, main bus routes, roads to hospitals, fire stations, Metro stations, and the police station. Plowing generally begins when snow becomes two to four inches deep.
- After snow stops falling, crews concentrate on clearing snow from all streets for general public use as promptly as possible. Neighborhood streets are cleared last. Snow crews work in 12 hours shifts around the clock, toward these two goals, with a force of approximately 150 crew members, 70 pieces of snow control equipment, two salt storage facilities with a capacity of 10,000 tons, and snow budgets averaging $1 million annually.
The Snow Plowing Map shows how streets are prioritized for plowing. Primary routes (red) are cleared first. VDOT roads (black) are cleared by VDOT.
After a severe storm (greater than 10 inches), it may take 36-48 hours after the snow stops falling before County plows can start clearing residential streets.
View a video about commonly asked snow plowing questions.
Declaring a Snow Emergency
The Arlington County Manager makes this decision when snow, sleet or freezing rain makes streets hazardous. Arlington's plan is part of the metropolitan area's regional snow program. Vehicles driven on snow emergency routes during a snow emergency must be equipped with snow tires, M/S radials or chains. These routes are designated by signs, and shown on the Snow Maps in RED (primary routes) and BLACK (VDOT maintained routes). Violators who get stuck or park on these routes during a declared snow emergency are subject to summons, fines and towing because each abandoned and parked vehicle on major streets impedes snow control progress. Responsibility for Clearing Snow
- Clearing snow from Schools and County property. Arlington County Public Schools, Fire Department, General Services Division, and the Department of Parks assume this responsibility to free Department of Environmental Services crews for street clearing. DES crews shovel bus shelters after completing street clearing operations.
- Commercial parking lots are the owner's responsibility; snow may not be displaced into public streets.
- Clearing snow from driveways and entrances. This is the responsibility of the resident; the County cannot provide this service. To minimize the frustrating problem of the snowplow covering your driveway with snow after you've just shoveled it, stand facing the street and shovel snow into the yard instead of into the street.
- Clearing sidewalks. Pedestrians need sidewalks to be cleared in residential and business neighborhoods. The County does not clear sidewalks and applauds citizens and proprietors for clearing sidewalks to help their neighbors and customers weather the storm. Please lend a hand to elderly or disabled neighbors, who cannot clear their own sidewalks, porches and steps.
Emergency
Call the Police and Fire Departments at 911 (TDD 703-228-4610) in life-threatening emergencies and for fire/rescue service. Rarely is an emergency solved by out of sequence plowing; emergency vehicles are equipped to reach an emergency call quicker than a street can be plowed.
How Residents Can Help During Snowstorms
- Be patient and stay off the roads. This for the safety of the residents and to let the snow removal crews clear the roads.
- Have food and water on hand – standard emergency practice is to always have enough food and water to shelter in place for three days.
- When it starts to snow, park your vehicle off the street. If parking off street is not possible, an alternative is to coordinate with your neighbors to park on one side of the street only.
- A snowplow needs a minimum roadway width of 15 feet to maneuver safely; on many streets a snowplow cannot operate when cars are parked on both sides of the street.
- Shovel the sidewalk on your property and keep fire hydrants clear of snow. Minimize the use of deicing chemicals.
- Residents can get snow service updates by calling 703-228-6485, which will be staffed from 7 AM to 5 PM on Friday, February 12th. Or send snowplow inquiries or comments to snow@arlingtonva.us . Make sure to include your street address, intersection and block number and they’ll be forwarded to snow operations team.
Snow Clearing Status Information
For snow service updates, call 703-228-6485 (TDD during business hours is 703-228-4611). During minor storms there is no recorded message and the above line is answered directly. You can also e-mail snow@arlingtonva.us for an update on snow operations. After 48 hours, send us reports of trouble spots in your area. Information will be forwarded to the snow operations team. For more information, or copies of the printed snow brochure, please telephone 703-228-6570 (TDD (703-228-4611).
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Stay Back 100 feet from snow plows. Snow plows have large blind spots, |
Downed Trees
- Call the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) at 703-558-2222 for emergencies to clear fallen trees or branches blocking streets or for downed power lines during this storm event.
- Call Dominion Power at 1-888-667-3000 for concerns about power lines threatened by trees or branches.
- Call Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) at 888-383-8368 for hazardous trees or branches over State roads.
- Fallen trees on a private property that are not on power lines are the individuals property owners responsibility.
