Now that the ice and snow of the last few weeks have melted, the usual potholes and other road damage can be seen on Reston streets.

A reader pointed out that Soapstone Drive between Ridge Heights Road and South Lakes Drive has a large bump in the road. The bump goes directly over an underpass on Reston Association paths.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is aware of the issue and has put a “bump” sign to alert drivers.

A VDOT rep said staff is closely monitoring and, since the bump is over a pedestrian underpass, the bridge and infrastructure sections are also inspecting the structure.

Larry Butler, RA’s Senior Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources, said he is aware of the issue and that that RA has not seen structural problems with the underpasses in his more than 30 years with the association.

“We do not maintain roads, so I can’t comment on the challenges of those over underpasses or many of the other culverts below roads for drainage etc.,” he said. “The underpasses are typically 12-inch thick concrete boxes, and other than some minor seepage in the box or at the wing walls outside the underpasses we have never had structural problems with any of them.”

Updated, 6:35 p.m. Thursday: Fairfax County Public Schools have announced there will be no school Friday.

After nearly 12 hours of snow in Northern Virginia, roads remain “treacherous” Thursday night, says the Virginia Department of Transportation.

VDOT says there are multiple road closures throughout the county as snow began falling at 7 a.m. and was still falling at 5 p.m. The National Weather Service said Reston had received 7.5 inches of snow through 5 p.m.

Fairfax County 911 said it received calls from drivers asking about abandoning their vehicles. The county says vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense.

From Fairfax County Emergency Services:

If you can safely move your vehicle out of travel lanes you can call a tow truck to get the vehicle home; any vehicle left for more than 12 hours or deemed a road hazard by the police will be towed.

Abandoned vehicles may also contribute to accidents and the owner will be ticketed in this event. Exiting your vehicle puts you and other drivers in danger. If your vehicle is stuck and you are in danger, call 9-1-1, but otherwise you should have it towed.

Please remain off the roads if possible. Visibility is limited, temperatures are dropping and conditions are further deteriorating.

More than 3,800 trucks continue to plow roads in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties according to VDOT. Staying off the roads allows crews to work safely. Crews are spreading salt and abrasives, as appropriate, concentrating their response efforts on the most heavily traveled routes. VDOT’s goal is to have all state-maintained roads passable within 48 hours after a storm ends.

This storm; however, may deliver a second punch as temperatures drop to record levels and icy conditions remain likely into Friday.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 9 p.m. Thursday.

Reston Now will update this story with any school and government closings for Friday.

Photo: Plow on Reston Parkway during Thursday’s snow/Credit: Eddie via Twitter

The Virginia Department of Transportation wants to warn E-ZPass users of a potential phishing scam.

VDOT and E-Z Pass Virginia say e-mails have been sent to some customers with this awkwardly worded warning: “You have not paid for driving on a toll road. This invoice is sent repeatedly. Please service your debt in the shortest possible time.”

The e-mail includes a link  to click to pay.

From E-ZPass: “Please be advised that this is not a communication from E-ZPass. It is likely a phishing scam. We advise you not to open or respond to the message. If you have questions about the validity of any message received from E-ZPass, please contact our Customer Service Center at 877-762-7824.”

E-ZPass says valid e-mails from them will have these return addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

In other E-ZPass news, Virginia’s E-ZPass program did away with its monthly maintenance fee on transponders. In April, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed legislation that required the elimination of the monthly maintenance fees by Sept. 1, 2014. At the Governor’s direction, the Virginia Department of Transportation began implementing the change on July. 1.

The Virginia Department of Transportation has launched a new website that can tell you which roads near you are undergoing — or will be undergoing — construction and repairs.

The interactive portal, www.Virginiaroads.org, provides a one-stop information source to VDOT data and projects, Virginia Gov. Terry McAullife said in announcing the project.

From the office of the governor:

An important feature of this new portal are interactive maps showing current and planned road construction projects included in the Six-Year Improvement Program as well as pavement conditions and resurfacing projects. Some of the data  made available through this app is in response to requests by Virginia broadband providers to have greater visibility and earlier notice regarding road construction and repair  projects.  Providing access to this data will facilitate coordination between VDOT and broadband providers seeking to build new infrastructure.

“Virginiaroads.org is a prime example of the type of project I envisioned when we launched our Data. Virginia initiative aimed at using data to make government more transparent,” said Gov. McAuliffe. “It’s as simple as clicking on the link, selecting a location and seeing in a glance the status of current and future transportation projects.  The information is easily accessible and open for to the public to see how their taxpayer dollars are being invested to improve Virginia’s road system.”

Virginiaroads.org features a series of interactive maps in a central online location.  Maps display current construction projects, projects in the design phase, projects scheduled to go to construction and future projects. Projects can be searched via project stage, location, route or street name and the project identification number as it is listed in the Six-Year Improvement Program.

Another map shows pavement conditions, with colors identifying whether a section of pavement is in excellent, good, fair or poor condition.  You can click on a section of pavement to find out more details on resurfacing projects.

Other maps on the site

• 511 real-time traffic information
• Park and ride lots
• Snow plowing status
• Virginia toll facilities
• Major road construction
• Highway safety corridors
• Truck routes
• Scenic roads
• Bicycling maps
• Capital trail
• State maps
• City maps

This snowy winter has had an impact in missed school days for students and missed work days for business owners. It has also greatly impacted the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) snow budget.

VDOT says it will likely exceed its $157 million ($63.7 million for Northern Virginia) snow budget by more than $100 million this season.

However, the agency says it has resources in place from its larger maintenance budget for snow removal, pothole repairs, repaving and other road fixes. 

“Make no mistake, this winter has put a strain on our maintenance budget,” Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said in a statement. “However, we have sufficient resources to ensure our roads are well-kept and we will continue to be good stewards of public funds. This winter has been rough, but we’re committed to delivering a safe and reliable transportation system. “

Last winter, which was not a particularly snowy one, VDOT budgeted $149 million for snow-removal activities and spent $142 million. The agency used the the remaining money for maintenance. Only 12.7 inches of snow fell in Northern Virginia the entire 2012-13 season.

This season, Northern Virginia got about that much in one storm in mid-February. A typical season sees about 22 inches fall around here.

The additional snow removal costs will be paid out of VDOT’s overall maintenance budget, VDOT said. 

From VDOT:

VDOT is looking ahead at where adjustments can be made to the maintenance budget to compensate for those costs.  With safety always first, VDOT is considering the following adjustments:

• Extend completion dates of select paving projects
• Limit use of service contracts (excluding snow removal and pothole patching) and perform needed services with VDOT staff
• Limit overtime (excluding snow operations/safety related activities)
• Delay new equipment purchases

“The safety of motorists and our employees is always the first priority,” said VDOT Commissioner Charlie Kilpatrick. “Funds will be spent as necessary for snow removal, incident management and other maintenance needs including pothole patching.”

The snow budget is part of VDOT’s overall $1.8 billion maintenance budget for such expenses as pothole repairs, repaving and other activities. VDOT’s $1.4 billion construction budget will not be impacted by snow removal, pothole repair or other maintenance costs.

Fairfax County Supervisors have been looking at how to solve the “who shovels the sidewalks” issue for more than a decade.

There has been much outcry this week from residents in Reston, who find themselves — and their schoolchildren — tromping through unshoveled sidewalks, walking in the street and being blocked by three-foot-high snow piles after last week’s storm dumped more than a foot here.

That has left many residents confused as to who is supposed to shovel what. Reston Association is responsible for Reston property. Homeowners are responsible for the sidewalks in front of their homes on side streets and subdivisions. Schools try and shovel the sidewalks closest to the buildings.

Main roads are Virginia Department of Transportation’s responsibility. But they just plow streets, not sidewalks.

Bruce Wright, a Reston resident and chair of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FAAB), did some research and found that the supervisors have discussed this issue five times in the past 14 years, but no real change has come.

The most recent discussion was in 2011, when Braddock Supervisor John Cook  suggested developing an informal program that “encourages and organizes volunteers to assist in the clearing of trails and sidewalks.”

“Supervisor Cook said that trails and sidewalks are key assets and pieces of infrastructure that are used not only for exercise and enjoyment, but also commuting,” meeting minutes of May 24 say. “Unfortunately, due to budgetary constraints, the County is unable to ensure these particular pieces of infrastructure stay clean, clear and accessible. To address this glaring need, the County’s Trails and Sidewalks Committee is asking that volunteer support for cleaning and clearing sidewalk and asphalt trail surfaces be authorized to help maintain public walkways in an acceptable condition. “

A motion to direct the county executive to develop guidelines for implementing a citizen volunteer trail and sidewalk maintenance program was unanimously passed, but no program was established.

“What’s the solution? Fairfax County needs a snow clearing ordinance, with exceptions for the elderly and others who physically can’t remove snow on public sidewalks and trails adjacent to their property,” Wright writes on the FAAB blog. “Volunteers could be on call to assist. Business owners and residents would have to figure out how to clear snow from their sidewalks. HOA’s could include sidewalk snow removal in their budgets.”

“VDOT should tell their snow plow drivers to try to avoid dumping snow on curb ramps at intersections. VDOT and the county should identify key transportation trails used by cyclists and clear them of snow: the W&OD Trail, the Fairfax County Parkway Trail, and others.”

Does Fairfax County need a snow removal policy to protect walkers? What is the solution? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

Photo: A man walks in the street on Wiehle Avenue to avoid the snow piles. Credit: Bruce Wright

When Reston gets a big snowfall, everyone wants to know one thing: When is my street going to get plowed?

Wednesday and Thursday’s storm dropped more than a foot here, and now the community is trying to get back to normal. But some members are confused as to who is responsible for clearing the roads and parking spots.

News to know: Reston Association is not responsible. RA’s territory is RA property, such as the parking lots of Walker Nature Education Center and the pools. The association also plows the 55 miles of bike paths in Reston.

Most Reston neighborhoods are part of cluster or homeowners’ associations. If this is you, you likely pay quarterly or monthly dues in addition to your annual Reston Association assessment. Part of those dues go for snow removal with a private contractor. If you are concerned that the street has not been plowed, contact your cluster president. You should receive regular communication from the cluster via e-mail or flyer.

Not sure which cluster you belong to or who is on the board? Start with RA’s neighborhood list.

If you are not in a cluster, then your street is likely plowed by Virginia Department of Transportation crews. VDOT is also responsible for main roads and secondary roads such as Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston Parkway and Fox Mill Road.

Visit VDOTPlows.org to see a real-time map of when your street will see a plow.

Snow plow crews will continue to work on Northern Virginia streets on Wednesday, but the Virginia Department of Transportation says residents should be patient as conditions are challenging.

Tuesday’s storm dumped about six inches of snow in the area. And while the sun is shining and no snow is falling today, temperatures are in the single digits for now, making ice melter less effective.

VDOT said at the start of the snow season this year it is more prepared than ever to tackle snow removal. Among its new features: high-tech tools to view plowed streets. VDOT said Monday that more than 4,000 pieces of equipment were ready to work on Tuesday’s storm.

To see the status of VDOT plows near you, check VDOTPlows.

VDOT News to know for Wednesday snow removal

I-95/395 reversible HOV lanes will close northbound at 10 a.m. instead of 11 a.m. to allow crews extra time treat ramps and open gates southbound in time for the afternoon rush hour.
Drifting snow and below-freezing temperatures will make even roads that have already been plowed and treated slick. Drivers should use extreme caution, be aware of changing road conditions and use appropriate speeds.

Chemicals used to treat roads become less effective under 20 degrees. Crews continue to plow, treat ice with a mixture of salt and liquid magnesium chloride on interstates, and use a treated sand mix on primary and local roads.

In neighborhoods, park on the odd-numbered side of the street where possible to leave room for the plow to pass.

After a plow has passed, roads will be passable, but will not be bare pavement and may remain snow-packed.
Report road problems to 1-800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623) or [email protected].

Be aware that VDOT is not responsible for many Reston roads. Neither is Reston Association. VDOT plows will hit main roads such as Sunrise Valley Drive and Reston Parkway, as well as some side residential roads.

However, the majority of Reston clusters are contracted with private plow companies. If you live in a private cluster and need information, contact your cluster president or private plowing company.

Obviously, Reston Now has not traveled every road around town. If you see a trouble spot, help out your neighbors and post in the comments below.

The Virginia Department of Transportation cannot stop the snow from falling, but it can use some new high-tech tools to better plow the 17,737 miles of Northern Virginia roads, keep residents informed and generally prevent accumulating flakes from becoming traffic mayhem.

At its annual Northern Virginia Snow Briefing on Tuesday, VDOT Assistant District Administrator of Maintenance Brancho Vlacich pointed out some of the predictions and tools for 2013-14.

First up: The National Weather Service predicts a “typical” Northern Virginia winter with about 15 inches of snow, he said.

“When it is two to four  inches [at a time], our goal is to have all roads passable in 24 hours,” he said. “Six inches, within 48 hours. But after  six inches, it presents a major challenge.”

But with a $63 million budget (up from $55 million last winter — $48 million of which was spent), as well as 340,000 tons of salt, 4,000 pieces of equipment and 95,000 tons of sand, the agency is ready, he said.

Also in the VDOT toolbox this winter:

• A pilot program in which six VDOT trucks will have rear-mounted cameras. This will give the agency a real-time look at road conditions and whether roads were adequately plowed.
• A new jet-powered snow melter for park-and-ride lots where snow piles can block multiple parking spaces.
• An automatic vehicle locator system. Every VDOT and contractor truck will have an AVL to allow the agency and consumers to track where and when streets have been plowed. Bookmark www.vdotplows.org and check it often during a snow of more than two inches, said Vlacich. Also helpful: VDOT’s 511virginia.org site for updated traffic info
• New road treatment featuring Chemshield, a new product that takes brine and mixes it with pine sap to better stick to the roads, even in rain.
• A new VDOT mobile weather station – a Dodge Durango fitted with technology to assess road conditions.

Even with the latest in snow treatment and reconnaissance, Vlacich says VDOT still needs the public’s help. He reminds citizens to stay 100 feet behind snowplows, don’t pass plows, stay of roads during storms and telework if possible.

“Traffic is the major challenge for us in snow removal,” he said. “A plow sitting in traffic is ineffective.”

(Photo courtesy of VDOT)