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Fairfax County supervisors demanded answers from the Virginia Department of Transportation on Jan. 14 after snow left by the Jan. 6 storm hardened into ice across roads, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings.

“Planning, execution and communication fell far short of the service level that our residents demand and deserve,” supervisors said in a joint measure adopted by the board.

Board Chairman Jeff McKay said the response varied dramatically across the county. Snow removal worked well in some neighborhoods, he said, while others appeared to have been nearly forgotten.

“The inconsistency is the biggest challenge,” McKay said.

Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, who introduced the measure, agreed there was “a huge level of variability.”

Several days of extremely low temperatures complicated the cleanup. Snow remaining on pavement froze into ice, making it much harder to remove.

Kyle Brewer, a Washington, D.C., resident who works in Tysons, said the route to and from the Tysons Metro station remained “treacherous” because the snow had become slick ice.

“This seems to be VDOT’s property, with nobody in charge of clearing them,” Brewer said in an email. “Even the ADA curb cuts are blocked by plowed ridges of now hard ice.”

McKay emphasized that nearly every public road in Fairfax County is controlled by the state, which relies on both VDOT employees and contractors for snow removal.

“This is a VDOT responsibility, not a Fairfax County responsibility,” McKay said, acknowledging that the distinction can be confusing to residents.

Supervisors also noted that progress reports provided through the VDOT Plows website and other channels depend heavily on information submitted by contractors.

Rather than focusing solely on blame, board members said they wanted better coordination with VDOT before the next winter storm.

“I am looking forward to working with VDOT to ensure [response to] our next storm goes better,” Bierman said.

The board directed County Executive Bryan Hill to request a full after-action review from VDOT covering preparations before the storm and cleanup afterward. Supervisors want details about how contractor performance was evaluated and how the agency confirmed that roads had been properly plowed and treated.

Hill was also asked to report on additional steps VDOT plans to take during future storms and identify possible requests the county could make to the state. That could include seeking a revision to VDOT’s definition of when a road is considered “passable.”

The board also wants VDOT representatives to attend a future Transportation Committee meeting to discuss snow removal.

Four missed school days draw scrutiny

Supervisors raised separate concerns about Fairfax County Public Schools canceling classes for four days during and after the storm. Combined with the two-week winter break, students were out of class for nearly three weeks.

McKay said he was “shocked” that the school division did not use online instruction if conditions prevented students from returning to classrooms.

FCPS changed its snow-day policy in 2021 to begin virtual instruction after five canceled days, following its experience with remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, however, the division restored 11 traditional snow days, citing the need to “ensure equitable access to instruction and student services for all students.”

McKay said such a long interruption makes it difficult for students and teachers to regain momentum. He joked that his own children were “driving us crazy” during the extended break.

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity said one or two snow days may be reasonable, but alternatives should be considered when closures stretch longer.

“When we get to three, four days, we’ve got to get them back,” Herrity said.

Bierman noted that reopening schools depends in part on VDOT making roads safe for travel.

“We lost four days of school … on what was a sizable but not huge storm,” he said.

Schools reopened Friday, Jan. 10, with a two-hour delay. It was the first day students had attended classes since Dec. 20, 2024.