Environmental Services
Snow Removal
Snow Fighting in Arlington County
Latest Snow Operation Updates
Helpful Hints
When it starts to snow, park your vehicle off the street if possible.
If you park your car on the end of your driveway you will have less snow to shovel and you will be close to the street to get out easily.
- Parking your car off the street protects your car from being splashed by salt spray, from becoming plowed in, or being hit by passing vehicles. Best of all, the snowplow has space for plowing. If this is not possible, a second alternative is to get together with and organize neighbors to park on one side of the street only.
- A snowplow needs a minimum roadway width of 15 feet to maneuver safely, and on many streets a snowplow cannot operate when cars are parked on both sides of the street.
- If you must drive, equip your vehicle with snow tires or chains. Why risk getting stuck, wrecking your car, blocking traffic and snow control equipment, and incurring towing and impoundment costs and inconveniences?
The goals of the County's Department of Public Works' snow control program are:
1. During snowfall , snow fighters concentrate only on keeping the main arteries (shown on the snow maps) passable for public transportation and emergency vehicles.
2. 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 . Please note that many jurisdictions, unlike Arlington, do not routinely include residential streets in their snow control program. More good news: snow fighters work in teams 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 $600,000 annually.
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.
Timing and Frequency of Street Plowing
Plowing generally begins when snow becomes two to four inches deep, if freezing temperatures indicate that there will be no melting. However, when the snow depth stops at four inches and afternoon sun is melting the snow, the County lets the sun do the work and saves some of your tax dollars. Some snow is left on the street after plowing because allowances must be made for manhole lids and other above-pavement obstacles to avoid damaging snowplow blades. And only the sun can do a cost effective job of removing all snow from every street.
Street Plowing Priorities
The 376 miles of streets maintained by Arlington County are cleared in this order:
- Snow emergency routes, arterial streets, main bus routes, roads to hospitals, fire stations, Metro stations, and the police station.
- All remaining residential streets, with steep hills cleared first.
For more info, see the Maps - Snow Plow Routes. There are 60 miles each of arterial and collector streets and 256 miles of residential streets.
Clearing snow from schools and County property
Arlington Public Schools, the Arlington County Fire Department, the Office of Support Services, and the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Resources assume this responsibility to free Department of Public Works crews for street clearing. Public Works 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. The plow operators do not have control over the windrow of snow coming off the edge of the blade, and fixed angle plows cannot be adjusted for the sharp turns required to clear driveways. 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
As Arlington continues to urbanize, pedestrians increasingly need and expect 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. Sidewalks should be cleared to the pavement (to help the sun melt residual snow) at least one shovel's width within 24 hours after snowfall ceases. This makes it easier for people to walk to school, the bus stop or Metro station, or business areas.
Use Caution with Deicers
Excess salt and other deicing chemicals can harm pet paws, trees and plants, aquatic life, and impact drinking water supplies. Try to minimize the amount of deicing salt that you use on driveways and sidewalks. Shoveling is the best way to clear snow from the sidewalks. The County also tries to minimize the impacts of deicing salt during winter storms. For home use, consider using an environmentally-friendly mix of sand and sawdust instead, or salt substitutes that are less harmful, such as potassium acetate (KA) and Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA). Sweeping up after the snow melts reduces environmental impact.
Please lend a hand to elderly or disabled neighbors, who cannot clear their own sidewalks, porches and steps. Clear access ramps to enable our wheelchair bound neighbors the access they require during these periods when mobility is particularly challenging for them - and check to see if they have enough food on hand. TIP: Remove snow before pedestrians pack it down.
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.
Information
During major storms, citizens can get a recorded update on the status of snow clearing operations by phoning 703-228-6485 (TDD during business hours is 703-228-4611). The recorded message will indicate whether requests from citizens for plowing are being taken; this happens towards the end of the storm after most residential streets have been systematically cleared. If your street was inadvertently missed and Public Works staff are taking requests, you can hold on the line and a staff member will assist you. During minor storms there is no recorded message and the above line is answered directly. For more information, or copies of the printed snow brochure, please telephone 703-228-6570 (TDD (703-228-4611).
The Arlington County Snow Map
Look at the maps to help determine the best route to a destination if you must drive. Remember the Primary ( red ) routes will be plowed first. The state maintained roads (black) may or may not be clear and depend on VDOT plows to clear them; Arlington County is not responsible for them. Shortcuts through neighborhoods are not advised as residential streets are plowed last.
Available in Portable Document Format (PDF). Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print the maps. When printing, set printer preferences to "shrink to fit" for paper smaller than 18" x 24'' inches in size.
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Stay Back 100 feet from snow plows. Snow plows have large blind spots, |
Helpful Hints
When it starts to snow, park your vehicle off the street if possible. This protects your car from being splashed by salt spray, from becoming plowed in, or being hit by passing vehicles. Best of all, the snowplow has space for plowing. If this is not possible, a second alternative is to get together with and organize neighbors to park on one side of the street only. A snowplow needs a minimum roadway width of 15 feet to maneuver safely, and on many streets a snowplow cannot operate when cars are parked on both sides of the street. If you must drive, equip your vehicle with snow tires or chains. Why risk getting stuck, wrecking your car, blocking traffic and snow control equipment, and incurring towing and impoundment costs and inconveniences?
How Can You Help: Just relax and leave your car at home! Avoid the stress of driving when snow is falling. Ride the subway, catch a bus, hail a taxi, try cross country skis, or enjoy a walk in the snow. Every car left home reduces the number of stranded vehicles that slow down snow control operations. The streets will be cleared faster. And you'll be free to enjoy the winter wonderland.
Being snowbound at home can be fun. If it's snowing when you greet the day, stay home (if at all possible), and help reduce traffic jams so snow crews can clear the roads faster.
Have Fun! Build a snowman with the kids. Go sledding. Catnap. Catch up on reading, letter writing, or knitting. Clean a closet. Surf the Internet. Work on a jigsaw puzzle. Watch the soaps or old movies on TV. Bake cookies and serve warm with mugs of hot chocolate. Feed the birds. Simmer a pot of stew on the stove for supper. Wave at the snowplow operators.
If you must venture onto the road, you will find that Arlington County provides full scale snow control operations not usually offered by borderline snow belt cities with an annual average snowfall of 18 inches.
