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<[link removed]> <[link removed]>Dear Friend,

We’re still digging out days after the snowfall, and with temperatures expected to stay below freezing for at least another week and the Snow Emergency continuing through at least 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, many snow and ice impacts will continue.

As road conditions have improved and school campuses cleared, the Mayor announced this evening that DC Public Schools will be open tomorrow, Thursday, with a two-hour delayed start.

I'll say at the outset that I'm frustrated by the Executive's response to the storm and lack of clear, centralized communication, and I know you are, too. Our office phones have been ringing off the hook, and my inbox is filled with people frustrated and asking questions. I contacted agency leaders several days ago, letting them know I could feel the frustration building and they needed to respond more clearly. I've tried to share updates on social media to keep people up to date (like the latest today <[link removed]> and issues with bus stops <[link removed]> and trash pickup <[link removed]>), and I wanted to share a larger email with the latest.

I also appreciate your patience and that of our workers on city crews taking long-hour shifts, and I’m grateful to neighbors who've been flagging problem areas for us to amplify to DPW. Please keep doing that and submitting them as 311 requests, as well. That helps inform DPW's quality assurance process, as those requests are used by the agency to create a map of areas to target.

So here's a larger update on what I’m seeing and the latest from the Mayor and DPW, as of mid-afternoon:

<[link removed]>Street Plowing and Neighborhood Roads

I’ve been in frequent contact with DPW leadership about the lack of plowing on many residential streets. A major issue has been that many smaller “light” plows (think pick-up truck plows) were damaged early on by heavy ice, and large plows often can’t safely fit on narrow neighborhood streets or operate without risking damage to parked cars. DPW has brought in contractors, with on-site supervisors overseeing their work, and I'm starting to see more neighborhood streets plowed, in addition to emergency routes and major corridors.

DC now has roughly 280 plows in operation, and there are about 100+ pieces of heavy construction equipment working citywide 24/7 as DPW ramps up snow removal. This removal work is starting in the downtown core and will move outward, so to set expectations, it will likely still take some time for these crews to reach many residential neighborhoods. All that snow is currently being taken to RFK parking lots, and the city is sourcing additional sites, as well. This is critical work, because plows just push snow back on cars, and neighbors dig out those cars - a never-ending cycle until it melts. 

My office is continuing to compile lists of problem blocks and prioritize these for DPW. Please keep letting us know what you’re seeing. To submit a service request for snow and ice removal on a public street, bridge, or overpass, call 311.

If you've seen plows go by with blades up, those vehicles may be applying salt rather than actively plowing, especially if they're the light plows. Heavy construction equipment is now working in many areas that would normally only see light plows.

The Department of General Services – which maintains DC government properties – has also been working to clear around every public school, and they've aimed to have all school properties cleared by the end of today. OSSE has been clearing school buses, starting engines, and conducting dry runs.

Additionally, National Capital Parks - East of the National Park Service says it has been working on park properties throughout the District this week, but will focus on its Capitol Hill parks Thursday, including Folger, Lincoln, Marion, Stanton, and Seward Square.

Bus Stops and Pedestrian Access

Along many corridors, plows have pushed 2 to 3 feet of snow and ice along the edge of streets, forcing riders to stand in the street to board buses, which is incredibly dangerous. I’ve reached out directly to DDOT, WMATA, and DPW to push for better coordination so bus stops get cleared quickly by DDOT. DDOT has added three additional contractors specifically to expedite bus stop clearing, but with thousands of bus stops, that's not going to move fast. I want to see more action here if we're truly trying to get our city back open.

Getting both bus stops and crosswalks accessible again is critical for kids getting to school, essential workers getting to their jobs, and everyone who relies on transit.

Public Transit

Metrobus continues to expand the number of routes it's running, but we still have many in Ward 6 on snow detours. You can keep up to date with the status of both bus and rail here <[link removed]>. I also suggest signing up for MetroAlerts <[link removed]> (for post-storm and everyday use).

Trash and Recycling Collection

Trash and recycling service is likely to be heavily disrupted through at least the end of this week. Ice-packed alleys are preventing trash trucks from safely getting in and out. If you have alley collection, there's no way to sugarcoat this; you should expect continued missed or delayed pickup. You can keep up with the status here <[link removed]>. 

I’m pushing DPW to explore alternative approaches where possible — like crews walking alleys, pulling cans to alley edges, or temporarily shifting some service to curbside — but realistically, regular schedules will not return until alleys are more passable. The city is expected to share more guidance soon on potential alley trash workarounds.



Alley Plowing

I want to set expectations, as I'm getting a lot of questions about this: the District government does not plow most alleys. While there is no law requiring residents to clear them, no other entity does this work. Clearing portions of alleys where possible can make a big difference for emergency access and eventual trash collection. The city did pre-treat many alleys with salt ahead of this storm for the first time, but many will remain impassable until next week.

Sidewalks and Crosswalks

Many neighbors are doing a great job shoveling sidewalks — thank you! I’m also working with DPW to make sure snow removal doesn't block crosswalks or pedestrian paths as plows push snow and ice around the Ward.

Because many sidewalks are now coated in ice, the Mayor has chosen to suspend enforcement of sidewalk snow-removal requirements for residents and businesses. That's a double-edged sword, in my opinion, because while some folks can't physically shovel and haven't gone through the law's exemption process, our big businesses and apartment buildings need to be held accountable for not clearing their sidewalks. That said, conditions aren’t changing soon, and we all need to do what we can, where we can, to improve safety.

Resources for People Needing Shelter

There is shelter space for anyone who needs it in DC. As extreme cold conditions continue, remember that anyone can call the shelter hotline to arrange free transport for individuals experiencing homelessness to a DC shelter.

DC Shelter Hotline: 202-399-7093 or 311

I hear your frustrations, and mine are growing, too. I’m continuing to press DPW and DDOT for better coordination and faster progress, and my office will keep tracking trouble spots and sharing updates as we get them.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know what you’re seeing in your neighborhood.

Charles Allen

<[link removed]>Councilmember Charles Allen · 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20004, United States
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