The Virginia Department of Transportation has budgeted $80 million for snow removal operations across the state this winter, including $24 million for snow removal in Northern Virginia. This is the average amount VDOT has spent on snow removal for the past five years.

“Eighty million dollars is a reasonable budget , which will cover the expenses of labor, plowing, materials and equipment for a moderate winter,” said VDOT Commissioner Philip Shucet. “A harsh winter may drive expenses over $80 million, and VDOT will make adjustments to its budget to ensure that major roadways are plowed, treated and kept as clear as possible. But there may be reduced levels of service for subdivision streets and other roads with lower traffic volumes.”

“VDOT will adhere to our general snow removal standard, but we may not be able to exceed it as we normally do when removing snow from subdivisions and other lower priority roads should there be heavy snow and ice,” explained Shucet. “Those roads will be plowed, but it may take a longer time to reach those areas.”

“Staying within budget requires us to scale back our snow removal operation and the level of service we are used to providing Northern Virginia residents, “ said district administrator Tom Farley. “There may be reduced levels of service for subdivision streets and other roads with lower traffic volumes.”

“We will continue to provide the best service possible within our ability to do so,” said VDOT Commissioner Philip Shucet. “And in the face of a repeat of last winter, we are prepared to spend additional money to make sure that snow is cleared. However, spending above the $80 million level will require us to make further budget cuts in the spring.”

In the past, if the snow budget was exceeded, VDOT would tap into its statewide maintenance budget to cover costs. However, the tremendous costs of the past year’s weather events necessitates a budgeted snow plan to control expenditures and avoid impacting other critical maintenance programs. Last winter, VDOT spent $48.6 million on snow preparations and removal in Northern Virginia.

The next highest expenditure was $16.5 million in Richmond followed by $16.1 million in Bristol.

VDOT will strictly manage the snow removal budget by working smarter and reducing expenses without compromising safety.

In Northern Virginia, VDOT will:

- Mobilize crews in phases when the weather forecast is uncertain. In the past, VDOT has mobilized 100 percent of its state and hired contractors regardless of a storm’s certainty.

- Based on the forecast, mobilize by county rather than district-wide. Up to now, VDOT has mobilized Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William crews at about the same time for most snow events.

- Be more conservative with the use of contractor equipment.

- Determine an appropriate staffing level for each snow event based on better use of weather forecasting technology, and use fewer non-maintenance employees when possible.

- Delay some subdivision plowing until equipment is available from the highway fleet.

- Limit sanding in subdivisions to hills, curves, intersections and other critical locations rather than sanding all subdivision streets.

- Mobilize the subdivision fleet when two or more inches are predicted. In the past, the subdivision fleet was mobilized when one inch or more was forecast.

VDOT is responsible for maintaining 16,000 lane miles of roads in Arlington, Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William counties. Cities and towns maintain their own roads.

VDOT Northern Virginia snow preparations and removal expenditures:

1999 $19.6 million
2000 $19.6 million
2001 $20.4 million
2002 $12.0 million
2003 $48.6 million

Page last modified: Dec. 2, 2003