The Town of Vienna is responsible for clearing snow and ice from all public streets. The Town’s fleet of plows and spreaders are on duty 24 hours a day during and following snowfall events - until all streets are clear and safe.
Street Snow Removal
In accordance with Public Works’ standard operating procedure, the Town executes up to three phases of operational responses. Pre-treatment of roads begins when winter weather is anticipated. Plowing begins when the snow reaches a depth of approximately two inches.
Primary streets are cleared first, followed by secondary roads, and then neighborhood streets. In the event of an ongoing storm, plows may have to return to primary routes to remove additional accumulation and return to secondary roads and neighborhood streets later to finish clearing snow as soon as possible.
During snow events, residents can help ensure efficient operations by:
- Staying home during snow and ice storms and travelling by vehicle only if absolutely necessary.
- Parking in a driveway rather than the street to enable plow drivers to clear snow more efficiently and ensure the vehicle owner will not have to shovel their car out of a snow bank.
- Keeping water meter enclosures clear of snow and ice during winter weather ensure accurate billing. If the meter cannot be read due to obstruction from snow or ice, an estimated water bill will be rendered.
Sidewalk Snow Removal
The Town clears snow on sidewalks adjacent to Town-owned properties, and residents and businesses are encouraged to clear snow on sidewalks around their property to ensure safe pedestrian passage. Residents are also encouraged to help elderly, disabled, or ill neighbors who may not be physically able shovel their walkways.
When clearing snow from sidewalks, please remember to:
- Shovel snow from sidewalks and driveways into a yard and not the roadway.
- Clear snow from hydrants so firefighters can respond more quickly in an emergency.
- Shovel sidewalks as soon as possible after the storm has ended to ensure safe passage for all pedestrians.
Snow Removal FAQs
When will my street be plowed?
Response time depends on the severity of the snow event. In all cases, primary roads are cleared first, followed by secondary routes and then residential streets. Please be patient and stay home until the Town can treat and plow your neighborhood.
Why is it taking so long for my street to be plowed?
Town crews work around the clock to remove snow from Vienna’s 65 miles of roadway in 12-hour shifts. Major snow events, such as blizzards, take longer to clear than smaller accumulations. In all cases, our snow removal crews work around the clock to get the job done as quickly as possible.
Why was only the center of my street plowed?
Once primary streets are clear, snow-removal crews address residential streets by first clearing a path to make all residential streets passable as quickly as possible. Crews return later to clear the rest of each street
Why was snow plowed into my driveway entrance, in front of my mailbox, or onto the sidewalk?
Plow drivers attempt to avoid pushing too much snow in front of mailboxes or sidewalks, and it is particularly challenging to avoid these areas during significant weather events. It is not feasible for Town trucks to clear each individual curb cut because doing so would significantly increase the response time needed to clear roads.
Does the Town clear sidewalks?
The Town does clear snow from sidewalks adjacent to Town-owned properties. Residents and business owners are encouraged to clear snow from their properties to ensure safe passage.
Where should I park?
When available, use off-street parking such as driveways or private lots. This helps keep streets clear for snowplows and prevents your vehicle from being plowed in by the snow.
Will my trash be picked up?
Sanitation pickup depends on the severity of the weather event and the length of time it takes to clear the Town’s roads. For updates on the Town’s operating status, visit www.viennava.gov or sign up to receive emergency text and email messages via Vienna Alerts. You can also check the Town’s social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) for updates @TownofViennaVA.