Washington, D.C., was hit by a heavy mix of snow and icy pellets that left many streets and sidewalks clogged, and public schools closed three days later. Despite a $192 million DPW budget and a $7.3 million snow-removal allocation, residents reported numerous alleys, sidewalks and residential streets remained uncleared. Mayor Bowser applauded volunteers from the Snow Team Hero program who aided seniors and residents with disabilities, while officials work to clear side and residential roads. The slow response has raised questions about the city’s snow-preparedness compared with other major cities.
D.C. Snow Aftermath: Schools Still Closed As City Struggles To Clear Streets And Sidewalks
D.C. Public Schools Still Closed as City Struggles To Clear Roads and Sidewalks
Washington, D.C., remained largely snowbound days after a powerful late-week storm, with public schools still closed and many residential streets, alleys and sidewalks impassable. The slow cleanup has drawn scrutiny of the District's Department of Public Works (DPW) and prompted volunteers to step in to assist vulnerable residents.
Storm Details And Cleanup Status
Late Saturday night into early Sunday, the city received a mix of 4–7 inches of heavy snow plus up to 4 inches of icy pellets. The Washington Post reported the storm’s water content was comparable to that of a 20-inch blizzard. By Wednesday morning the D.C. Snow Team map still showed 46 snowplows active across the city.
Budgets, Capacity And Coverage
The Department of Public Works operates with a $192 million budget overall and a snow-removal allocation of roughly $7.3 million this fiscal year, up about $2.1 million from FY2023. The DPW lists among its responsibilities ensuring the District is safe to navigate after a snowstorm and able to resume normal services. City officials face the practical challenge of clearing 364 miles of alleys, 1,495 miles of sidewalks and more than 1,100 miles of roadway.
Local Reports And Official Response
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Joe Bishop-Henchman (Eckington) and other residents posted complaints and videos on X showing uncleared sidewalks, alleys described as having “given up on completely,” and at least one DPW plow reportedly stuck. Photographs circulated of major intersections such as Q Street and Connecticut Avenue coated in dirty slush, and NBC Washington reported that many side streets remained difficult to navigate. Outside Union Station, only one lane in each direction had been plowed in some areas.
Community Help And Questions About Readiness
Mayor Muriel Bowser publicly thanked more than 600 volunteers who, through the Snow Team Hero program, helped clear walkways at over 100 homes for seniors and residents with disabilities. Still, the slow reopening of schools and persistent access problems have prompted residents to compare D.C.’s response to other cities that cleared more quickly, and to question whether DPW resources and planning are adequate for such heavy, wet snowfall.
The original report, "D.C. Public Schools Still Closed as City Struggles To Clear Roads and Sidewalks," first appeared on Reason.com. Additional reporting cited The Washington Post and NBC Washington.
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