Storm Cleanup Enters New Phase 

Arlington road crews are in Phase 4 of snow response. Crews are focused on additional cleanup of residential streets (particularly narrow ones), primary roads, school routes, and trash collection routes.

• The Snow Issue Form is open for requests for streets that need more attention.
• Follow the Snow Activity Map to see the progress of plowing. 
• Stay informed. Sign up for free alerts about hazardous weather and other major events at ArlingtonAlert.com.

Our crews did fourteen,12-hour shifts in a row and the work we are continuing to do to try to address your concerns and respond to this storm that has delivered to us the new word: snowcrete. 

And for a further update of work this hour: as of 9 am this morning, the snow emergency that the County Manager and County Board declared, has ended. Storm Updates: Local Emergency Ends, Snow Removal Enforcement Begins That's because we are in a new phase: wrapping up Stage 4 and working on our schools. 

Opening our schools has been the biggest issue for the last 4 days, in addition to being one we have been focused on from the start of the storm. The School Board and Superintendent are the leads on this, but our County Manager, Department of Environmental Services, and County Board have also been fully engaged on it as partners and as the entity with snow clearance responsibility. 

This morning, Arlington Public Schools are opening 2 hours late. That is consistent with Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria as well as a significant majority, but not all (DC and Falls Church), of the region. The primary reason most schools have been delayed is the difficulty in clearing sidewalks due to the Snowcrete as cold, icy snow is being called. That is true in Arlington, and we are working on this difficult challenge with urgency. 

The County Manager and the Board suspended our ordinance that requires Arlington residents to clear their own sidewalks because of the ice at the top of the snow and the weight of the snow last week. I agreed with that decision because it was not safe or realistic to require sidewalks be cleared given the 9 inches of snow, the ice, and the weight of it. This morning, we are reinstating that ordinance because of the warmer temperatures yesterday and today and the need to improve our sidewalk conditions. Storm Updates: Local Emergency Ends, Snow Removal Enforcement Begins Sidewalks are key to our school safety and we will focus on the key spots as we work to improve sidewalk conditions, with your help.