Snow & Ice Control
Snow emergency hotline: 703.746.4488
Snow and ice storms produce an average accumulation of 15 inches annually in Alexandria, generally spread over several events in a typical winter. So far during the 2009-2010 season (as of Feb. 10), Alexandria has already received approximately 60 inches of snow from four storms. Clearing city streets and sidewalks is a difficult process that takes time, hard work, and good communication between residents, business owners, and the City.
The City clears snow from 521 lane miles of roadways, 20 miles of publicly owned sidewalks, walkways, and pathways, and 44 acres of municipal parking lots and publicly owned squares. (Typically, alleys and non-municipal parking lots are not part of the City’s snow removal operations.)
Who is Responsible for Snow Removal?
The City of Alexandria works in a unified, coordinated manner to clear snow from:
Remember that residents and property owners are responsible for sidewalks not shown on these maps.
City crews do not clear alleys and non-municipal parking lots.
In addition, not all roadways in the City of Alexandria are maintained by the City of Alexandria. The other agencies responsible for roads in Alexandria are:
- National Park Service, Road and Trail Maintenance. Call in order: 703.419.6408, 703.419.6417, or 703.419.6410
- Maintains: George Washington Memorial Parkway south of Hunting Towers and north of Second Street
- Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), 703.383.8368
- Duke and Walker Streets to the west city line
- King Street at I-395
- U.S. 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway) from Franklin Street south
- I-395, I-495, and I-95
Keep in mind that snow removal vehicles and crews you observe may be operated by City staff, by a contractor working for the City, by a private property owner, or by a contractor working for a private property owner.
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What Can You Expect?
City crews begin preparing for winter by early October and storms are tracked 24 hours per day during the fall and winter months. On-call City crews work in 12-hour shifts and may receive assistance from contractors.
After a storm is over, snow removal crews make every effort to clear streets in a reasonable amount of time, depending on temperature and road conditions. The goals are:
- Up to 4 inches of snow - Plowed and treated within 12 hours of storm’s end
- Up to 8 inches of snow - Plowed and treated within 24 hours of storm’s end
- Up to 12 inches of snow - Plowed and treated within 72 hours of storm’s end
- 12 or more inches of snow - This is a very unusual storm. The City will plow and treat streets as quickly as possible, based on weather conditions and available resources. It may take several days to begin to reach residential streets.
Business owners and residents are responsible for clearing sidewalks abutting their property within 24 hours after a storm has ended. Failure to clear sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowfall may result in a fine of $50. In addition, the City will have the work done and charge the cost to the property owner.
In addition to 521 lane miles of roadways, the City clears snow from 20 miles of publicly owned sidewalks, walkways, and pathways and 44 acres of municipal parking lots and publicly owned squares.
It is the City’s goal to have snow cleared from publicly owned sidewalks, walkways, pathways, municipal parking lots, and publicly owned squares in 24 hours. However, depending on conditions and whether or not adjacent facilities are open, large snow events and/or ice removal may require up to four days for removal.
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City Plowing Priorities
City crews treat and plow all primary and secondary emergency routes first. After these routes are addressed, crews will begin plowing residential streets. Please remain patient and stay home until the City can treat and plow your neighborhood.
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Streets
Primary routes are our first priority for plowing and applying materials. Primary routes are the major streets that run throughout the city and near schools and hospitals. Plow trucks are first assigned to primary routes and then move quickly to secondary routes. (Snow removal operations on some pathways and public squares generally begin immediately- see Sidewalks & Pathways.)
Secondary routes include local and neighborhood streets, most Metro and DASH bus routes, and streets requiring special attention in snowy conditions (such as steep hills). Plowing of these routes often occurs in tandem with or closely after the plowing of some primary routes.
A note about parking...
Vehicles parked on snow emergency routes may be towed and impounded. These routes are posted with red and white street signs. If possible, use off-street parking.
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Sidewalks & Pathways
City crews clear snow from approximately 20 miles of publicly owned sidewalks, walkways, and pathways and 44 acres of municipal parking lots and publicly owned squares.
City crews coordinate road clearing and sidewalk work by first clearing accessible curb ramps in heavily used pedestrian areas–particularly near major transit stops and retail zones along King Street (Commonwealth Avenue to Union Street) and Mount Vernon Avenue (East Glendale Avenue to Four Mile Road).
Accessible curb ramps, sidewalks and pathways are cleared by crews from many City departments. The sidewalks are prioritized into three basic groups:
- First priority: School walking areas, accessible curb ramps in key transit stops, and retail zones.
- Second priority: Walks expanding out from schools, parks, and municipal locations.
- Third priority: Trails, pathways internal to parks, and bike paths. (The Mount Vernon Trail is maintained by the National Park Service and is not plowed during snow events).
Clearing snow from sidewalks is the responsibility of owners or occupants of homes or businesses in adjacent private buildings. Snow and ice must be cleared from all paved sidewalks abutting your property within 24 hours of the end of the snowfall. Failure to clear sidewalks may result in the City having the work done and charging the cost to the property owner, or fining the property owner $50.
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How You Can Help During a Snow Emergency
The City will maintain its snow emergency hotline (703.746.4488) before, during and after potential snow emergency events. Once a snow emergency is declared by the City, pay special attention to news broadcasts and eNews alerts for announcements that a snow emergency plan is in effect.
Residents and business owners should be prepared for winter weather by maintaining an adequate supply of shovels, salt or sand for their sidewalks and driveways. If you leave the City during winter, have a plan to ensure that your sidewalks will be cleared while you are away. This will prevent the City from charging you with fines, snow removal fees, or both.
City Code Section 5-2-21 states that sidewalks, driveways, and entrances are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, occupant, community association, or business for snow removal. In addition, please:
- Clear ice, snow and leaves from around fire hydrants and storm drains near your property.
- Do not shovel snow from your property onto the sidewalk or street.
- Park your car off the street wherever possible.
- Immediately report potholes to the City online or at 703.746.4488.
- Check on neighbors needing special assistance.
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Citizen Assistance & "Snow Buddies" Program
The City of Alexandria recognizes that there are homeowners and renters with low incomes or fixed incomes who cannot clear snow from their property because they are elderly or disabled. The Office of Citizen Assistance (703-746-4800 or TTY 703.838.5056) is available during snow events to provide homeowners with guidance so that snow may be cleared from their property.
If, for medical reasons, you are physically unable to clear snow from your property, Citizen Assistance can provide a list of private contractors and volunteer organizations that perform snow removal services in Alexandria.
The City of Alexandria may, as a last resort, clear snow from sidewalks adjacent to private property free of charge only for residents who can demonstrate medical and/or financial hardship. The following requirements apply:
- Resident must own or occupy the home
- Individuals in the home must be unable to shovel
- Only the public sidewalk can be cleared, not driveways or walkways
- Shoveling will be done only when the City plows the street
City of Alexandria crews are specifically prohibited from clearing snow on private property. In the event that a resident is eligible, City crews are instructed to work only within the public right-of-way (this area generally covers only sidewalks and accessible curb ramps). City crews will not clear driveways, stoops, porches, steps and other walkways on private property.
"Snow Buddies" Volunteer Program
In addition, the City and the Volunteer Alexandria have partnered on "Snow Buddies," a volunteer program to provide snow removal assistance for low-income homeowners who are elderly or disabled.
The "Snow Buddies" program matches eligible residents with volunteers and/or high school students who can shovel snow. Residents must apply to the Office of Citizen Assistance for this program in advance to ensure that their sidewalks are cleared in a timely fashion to avoid fines and/or snow removal charges. Please note that the City cannot guarantee that volunteers and/or assistance will be available during a snow emergency. To apply for the "Snow Buddies" program, contact the Office of Citizen Assistance (703-746-4800 or TTY 703.838.5056). To become a volunteer for the "Snow Buddies" program, please contact Volunteer Alexandria at 703.836.2176.
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