A Reference Guide to Snow and Ice Control Operations

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• What to Expect 
• Working Together
• Regional Winter Travel Guidelines
• Helpful Tips

When a snow emergency is declared, the Prince George's County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) is responsible for providing “passable”conditions over a network of over 1700 miles of County maintained roadways. Treating roadways consists of plowing and/or salting or sanding, as warranted by weather conditions.

During a snow emergency, parking is prohibited along all designated snow emergency routes.

For more information, please call 301-350-0500.

What to Expect

During a snow emergency, residents should park in driveways. If on-street parking is necessary, parking is permitted only on the even-numbered side of the street. Parking restrictions will be enforced. Failure to comply will result in a fine and/or towing.

When a winter storm occurs, snow emergency routes and primary roadways will be treated first, followed by secondary streets and, finally, residential streets, including dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs.

Passable - conditions which allow a passenger vehicle to negotiate the travel path using reasonable care. This usually means that the roadway is snow and/or ice covered.

In a snow emergency, all streets are treated to obtain a passable condition. This consists of two treated lanes on primary roadways and one treated lane on secondary residential streets.

After the storm has ended, all roadways are plowed and treated to provide bare pavement and wider travel lanes, as well as any additional treatment of salt or sand as required.

Bare Pavement - Conditions in which 75% or more of the travel lane surface shows.

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Working Together

Working together, County residents can play an important role in helping DPW&T provide more effective snow removal to all of our communities. The following actions will benefit all of us during snow emergencies:

• Don't drive, except when absolutely necessary.
• Don't park on snow emergency routes.
• Park only on even-numbered sides of residential streets or in driveways.
• In big storms, understand that plowing operations are intended to provide passable conditions only. This permits us to provide all communities with a passable travel way as early as possible. After all roads are deemed “passable”, we will then return and attempt to achieve bare pavement conditions.
• If possible, shovel driveways after the road has been plowed to avoid having driveways blocked by snow plowing operations. Also, do not place snow from driveway in the traveled portion of the roadway.
• Wait for 12 hours after precipitation has stopped before calling the Snow Information Center at 301-350-0500.

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Regional Winter Travel Guidelines

• Passable means that the road could be snow-covered.
• Plowing usually begins with an accumulation of at least 2 inches of snow.
• Please note that the type of snow (wet or powdery), the temperature and wind conditions following a storm can alter the response times.

Helpful Tips

If a large snow storm is predicted, you should …

• Have plenty of rock salt, cat litter or sand available.
• Have plenty of heating fuel for your home.
• Have flashlights, extra batteries, battery-operated radio and fresh bottled water on hand.
• Pick up any required medications.