Snow Removal FAQs
RA and VDOT Plowing Priorities and Procedures
Overview
If the snowfall is very heavy and Reston Association crews cannot get to all the pathways at one time, the access areas near shopping and commercial locations will be plowed first. Since the schools are usually closed during heavy storm periods, these access areas can often be cleared afterwards.
Q&A
How does the Virginia Department of Transportation prepare for snow removal?
Trucks will be pre-positioned in subdivisions whenever the forecast calls for over two or more inches. Previously, trucks were deployed to subdivisions once over two inches had fallen. Each subdivision will have at least one dedicated truck, with the intent of assigning the same driver to that subdivision throughout the winter. In difficult subdivisions there will be more than one truck.
How does VDOT decide which roads to clear first?
According to VDOT, the roads that carry the most vehicles get top priority. Interstate highways and most primary roads are cleared first. Secondary roads with high traffic volumes also get early snow-removal attention. Primary roads are those that are numbered 1 though 599 and secondary roads are numbered 600 and up.
Snow emergency routes are key among the top priorities, which allow emergency vehicles to pass through them.
Once the snow stops and the main roads are clear, residential streets will be sanded or plowed.
How does VDOT prepare for the snow and ice season?
During the year, VDOT stockpiles thousands of tons of salt, sand and chemicals at strategic locations. Equipment is also tested and snow routes are practiced. Some contracts are signed with individual companies that have heavy equipment to be placed on standby as needed.
Who is responsible for clearing my sidewalk?
You are. VDOT does not remove snow from sidewalks, but instead, concentrates on the roadways.
Who do I call at VDOT about street plowing?
You should call the Northern Virginia District office in Chantilly at 703-383-8368.
Who do I call at RA about the pathway plowing?
RA’s main office number is 703-435-6530.
Who is responsible for plowing the snow on the roadways in Reston?
The Virginia Department of Transportation is responsible for clearing the state-maintained roads.
What about clusters and individual neighborhoods?
VDOT plows single family subdivisions only when over two or more inches have fallen. Sanding in subdivisions is limited to hills, curves, intersections and other critical locations. For other private streets such as in condominium, cluster or apartment complexes, residents should contact their cluster association or management company.
Who plows the trails and pathways?
Reston Association is responsible for plowing the 55 miles of pathways that it owns and maintains. Crews will plow when snowfall on the pathways reaches over two inches.
Who makes the decision to plow or not plow?
The Director of Maintenance, with the input of the Central Services Facility plowing crew and the CSF mechanics.
What other factors are considered prior to plowing?
Type of snow, air temperature, ground surface temperature, forecast, previous conditions, time of day and future precipitation.
How many plows are used?
RA has four Canadian-built Bombardier tracked plows with 5-foot-wide blades.
How long does each run take to complete the over 55 miles of paved pathways?
Each of the four runs takes between 4 to 5 hours to complete. Heavier snow may require additional time.
Can the plows cause damage to the pathways?
In certain conditions, yes. If the tracked plows are run on bare or lightly covered pavement, damage can occur to both the pathways and the plows themselves.
Are the drivers of the plows trained?
Each RA plow driver has received extensive training and most of the drivers have over 10 years of experience plowing RA pathways.
Does RA own a plow blade?
RA owns one plow blade which is used to plow RA parking lots and a small section of RA-owned North Village Road adjacent to North Hills pavilion and park.
Are hand crews used at all by RA?
Yes, RA uses all available CSF personnel (25) to clear walkways, stairs and certain smaller pathways around community buildings and other high traffic areas in the community.
What kind of equipment do the hand crews use?
Snow blowers, shovels, sand spreaders, salt and sand.
What kind of sand and chemicals does RA use?
RA uses regular sand and “Magic Salt” which is an environmentally safe salt product.
Why doesn’t RA sand all the pathways?
RA owns over 55 miles of paved pathways with most of them 8 feet wide. The tremendous amount of sand, salt, spreading equipment and workers would be an enormous increase in the cost for RA.
Can RA guarantee clear, safe, dry pathways after every storm?
No. RA’s goal is to clear most of the pathways and make them passable for foot traffic. Fluctuating temps, addition small accumulations, hilly areas, and heavily shaded areas are susceptible to refreezing and slippery conditions.
Does RA inspect the pathways after each storm?
Yes. The hand crews and pathway personnel inspect areas to look for dangerous sections and we will treat them as needed.
Who can residents call to report a dangerous section of pathway?
The main number at the CSF is 703-437-7658. If you call after normal business hours, you will be directed to leave a message for our emergency response person. You can also email CSFstaff@reston.org and a CSF employee will respond to you within 24 hours.
Related Information
VDOT'S Role in Snow Removal in Reston
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) hosts a website that allows the public to monitor snow-removal truck locations within six-minute intervals. This tool will be available when trucks are plowing residential streets. For additional information, please visit http://www.virginiadot.org or contact the Hunter Mill District office.
Reston Association has requested that VDOT restrain from dumping snow on RA trails, sidewalks and bus stops.
Fairfax County Emergency Information
The county maintains a active website with up-to-date information about weather and other emergency situations. Click here for notices and tips about weather conditions, outages and other important notices that could impact the region.
Pathways to Schools
While Reston Association does not maintain roadway sidewalks, RA does work to ensure access to schools as much as possible via its pathway system.