Fairfax County Snowfall Guide: Snow Removal, Traffic Updates

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- Well, that escalated quickly. What went from a slight chance of a few snowflakes on Saturday morning has turned into a forecast of up to four inches for our area. Here's what you need to know about snow removal and what it could mean for traffic in our area.

Who removes the snow in Fairfax County?

Contrary to what many people believe, it's not the county. The Virginia Department of Transportation has a near-exclusive responsibility for clearing roads in every Virginia county, except for a few private roads that are the responsibility of the homeowner or a homeowner association. Fairfax County does clear a few roads, mostly around police and fire stations, for example.

How can I check when my street will be plowed?

VDOT has a web tool that shows the status of plowing in NoVa neighborhoods. Once there is at least two inches of snow, residents can find out the status of plowing by visiting vdotplows.org. Green means the neighborhood has been plowed, yellow means that plows are in progress, blue indicates plows haven't started working, and gray means VDOT doesn't maintain the area.

Generally speaking, what is VDOT's priority when it snows?

VDOT focuses first on clearing off the interstates and primary roads, and then snow emergency routes and roads that get a lot of traffic. After that, they focus on secondary roads and residential streets.

What about walkways and sidewalks?

Fairfax County asks all residents to help out with clearing sidewalks in front of residences and businesses to keep them safe for pedestrians and particularly children and those with disabilities or the elderly. If you're part of a homeowner association, you may be required to do so, so contact your association if you're not sure.

Fairfax County recommends that you consider shoveling the following seven places:

• The sidewalk in front of your home
• The sidewalk in front of vacant homes or homes where residents are unable to shovel
• Fire hydrants
• Bus stops (there are more than 4,000 in the county!)
• Sidewalks/paths that lead to schools or community buildings where snow has been removed
• Bike trails
• Storm drains

How will this affect traffic?

Since the snow is falling on Saturday, we'll be spared a rush-hour nightmare in the D.C. area. However, it can still cause problems, so you should monitor the National Weather Service's social media feeds for any updates.

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