Media Contact: John Lisle (DDOT) at (202) 671-2004; Nancee Lyons (DPW) at (202) 671-2637

(Washington, DC) — Some District residents may be surprised to see snow plows coming down their streets this morning. The Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Department of Public Works (DPW) will deploy the District’s entire fleet of snow removal equipment in a “dry run” to test the city’s preparedness for the upcoming snow season.

“No one else may be thinking about snow yet, but we are,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. “In fact we’ve been preparing since the end of last winter; the dry run is our dress rehearsal for the first storm of the season, which might not be that far off.”

The District’s snow plows will assemble at RFK Stadium at 9 am and then spread out across the city using a snow emergency scenario to test drivers’ responsiveness, their knowledge of routes and equipment, and to familiarize them with any obstructions they may encounter. DDOT and DPW will also activate the Snow Command Center at the Reeves Center and test the accuracy of their Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) system which gives managers the ability to track snow plows and monitor which streets have been treated and which haven’t.

“The only thing missing is the snow,” said DDOT Director Gabe Klein, “Otherwise, we are deploying everything we would put on the street in a real storm including more than 200 light and heavy plows. District residents can rest assured that we’ll be ready when snow really does start falling.”

DDOT and DPW also want to make sure residents are prepared for the upcoming snow season. Here is some important information for residents and motorists:

• Remember to keep a safe distance from emergency and snow vehicles and please use caution when attempting to pass a snowplow.  Give the drivers plenty of room to safely do their jobs.
• A snow emergency is declared when predicted conditions require all vehicles to be removed from the streets to clear snow/ice from curb to curb. DPW will tow any vehicle left on a snow emergency route to a pre-determined lot. The owner will incur a $250 fine for parking on a snow emergency route during a declared snow emergency, a $100 towing fee and a $25 impound fee (this fee will double after 48 hours and then increase by $25 every 24 hours thereafter).
• DPW customers rely on daily trash and recycling collections, which will continue as long as the conditions allow. If a snow/ice event is so severe that making collections poses a safety threat, DPW will suspend collections until conditions improve. Please listen to radio and/TV news reports for information about collections. DPW also will provide information through the neighborhood listservs.
• When a snow event is predicted, DPW’s leaf collection crews shift to snow duty and remain on snow duty until the event is over. As a result, leaf collections will be delayed. DPW will inform the public about leaf collections through the department’s website, Facebook page, the media, and neighborhood listservs.
• DPW and DDOT urge residents and businesses to clear their sidewalks of snow and ice within eight hours following the end of a snow/ice storm. Spreading salt on your sidewalk before an event makes clearing the sidewalk easier. Kitty litter also can be used, but it is useful for providing traction, not for melting snow and/or ice. Residents also are asked to look out for their elderly and disabled neighbors who may not be able to apply salt before a storm or remove snow/ice afterwards. Safe sidewalks help everyone.

For more information about the District’s snow and ice control plan, visit DDOT’s website at www.ddot.dc.gov or DPW’s website at www.dpw.dc.gov.