January ’16 – Trail Condition: That time they predicted mind-boggling amounts of snow

[PotomacCyclist]

Posted on the CaBi Facebook page — future proposals for Capital Skishare during blizzards. (Not serious, in case anyone is upset by this.)

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https://www.facebook.com/CapitalBikeshare/photos/a.138245472875449.17856.134700293229967/1144280048938648/?type=3&theater

[KWL]

Potomac Ave near Target looks like it was plowed yesterday before the blizzard part of the storm hit in the afternoon, but only on the west side for one lane. Perhaps a plow will get through on the other side before tomorrow morning. I was hoping do use the Potomac Avenue/Crystal Drive/Longbridge/Pentagon/Rt 110 Trail/Rosslyn route in to work tomorrow. We’ll see how well that goes.

[PotomacCyclist]

I would be very surprised to see many businesses open tomorrow.

UPDATE – The federal government has announced that DC-area offices will be closed on Monday. Many private businesses follow the lead of the fed. gov’t, so most of them will be closed too.

CLOSURES FOR MONDAY, JAN. 25

*** FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ***

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/current-status/

“Washington, DC Area
Applies to: Monday, January 25, 2016
STATUS: FEDERAL OFFICES ARE CLOSED – EMERGENCY AND TELEWORK-READY EMPLOYEES MUST FOLLOW THEIR AGENCY’S POLICIES

FEDERAL OFFICES in the Washington, DC area are CLOSED. Emergency and telework-ready employees required to work must follow their agency’s policies, including written telework agreements.”

ARLINGTON

https://www.facebook.com/ArlingtonVA/posts/10153392850802776

“Arlington County government offices, courts, & facilities are closed Monday, Jan. 25, due to treacherous travel conditions. All programs are cancelled. If possible, stay off the roads while snow removal efforts continue throughout the day.”

http://www.apsva.us/Page/1152

“Monday (1/25): All APS Schools & Offices Will Be Closed
All schools and offices will be closed on Mon, Jan. 25. Extracurricular activities, interscholastic games, team practices, field trips, adult education classes, and programs in schools and on school grounds are canceled.

Tuesday (1/26): All APS Schools Closed; Status for Offices TBD
All schools will be closed on Tue, Jan. 26. School officials will announce the status of operations for buildings and offices on Monday afternoon.”

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

http://dcps.dc.gov/

“DC Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, Monday, January 25, 2016.
Essential personnel should report to schools to prepare the buildings for opening.”

FAIRFAX COUNTY

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/

“Government offices, courts and schools CLOSED, Monday, Jan. 25.”

CITY OF ALEXANDRIA

https://www.alexandriava.gov/

“All City government facilities, as well as the Alexandria Courthouse at 520 King Street, will be closed on Monday, January 25.”

http://www.acps.k12.va.us/emergency/

“Monday, 1/25: ACPS SCHOOLS AND OFFICES ARE CLOSED. LAS ESCUELAS Y OFICINAS DE ACPS ESTARÁN CERRADAS.”

FALLS CHURCH

http://www.fccps.org/index.php?lang=en

“Falls Church City Public Schools and Day Care will be closed Monday, January 25, 2016.”

LOUDOUN COUNTY

https://www.loudoun.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3090

“Monday, January 25, 2016: Loudoun County Government will be closed on Monday, January 25, 2016.”

“Loudoun County Public Schools announced that all schools will be closed Monday, January 25, and Tuesday, January 26, 2016. Visit http://www.lcps.org for up-to-date information about schools and school activities.”

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1200252603337480&id=237192356310181&fref=nf

@PrinceGeorgesMD government will be closed tomorrow Monday, January 25th.

http://www1.pgcps.org/

“ALERT: Code Yellow – PGCPS schools and offices are closed on Monday, January 25, 2016. EMERGENCY PERSONNEL only must report to work.”

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/home.aspx

“Montgomery County Government and Facilities Closed Monday, January 25. Essential personnel must report as scheduled.
No trash/recycling pickup on Monday 1/25.”

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/

“MCPS Schools Closed January 25 & 26; Administrative Offices Closed January 25

Montgomery County Public Schools and all administrative offices are closed Monday (Jan 25) due to emergency weather conditions. All school, childcare and community activities in school buildings are canceled.

Montgomery County Public Schools are also closed Tuesday (Jan 26) due to emergency weather conditions. All school and community activities in school buildings are canceled.”

HOWARD COUNTY

http://www.howardcountymd.gov/

“Howard County Government offices will be closed Monday, January 25.”

http://www.hcpss.org/

“All Howard County public schools and offices are closed Monday, January 25, 2016.”

CAPITAL BIKESHARE CB

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=82aea0ed5a22304e4d0b18338&id=9c623c518f&e=b16f830972

“Capital Bikeshare will remain closed Monday, 1/25. Our staff will begin the process of digging out stations during the day tomorrow, and we will determine if we can resume service as we measure our progress in the big dig out.”

NATIONAL ZOO

https://www.facebook.com/nationalzoo/photos/a.57283477901.65878.32235087901/10153840021157902/?type=3&theater

“UPDATE: The Zoo will also be closed Monday, Jan. 25.”

*****

LIMITED METRORAIL AND METROBUS SERVICE ONLY

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Metro-Plans-Limited-Underground-Rail-Service-Bus-Service-366356821.html

“The Metrorail system will open at 7 a.m. with limited underground service on the Red, Orange and Green lines.
Orange Line: Ballston to Eastern Market only
Red Line: Medical Center to Union Station only
Green Line: Fort Totten to Anacostia only

At the start of service, trains will run every 20-25 minutes. Service levels may be upgraded as conditions allow. The system will remain open until midnight. Fares will not be charged on Metrorail on Monday, January 25.

Metrobus service will operate Monday from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Lifeline Service, meaning service will be limited to 22 routes only. Additionally, many of these routes will operate on snow emergency routes only to keep vehicles off hilly terrain, narrow side streets and other problem areas.”

DC CIRCULATOR BUS

“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced today that the DC Circulator will resume limited service Monday, January 25.

Circulator buses will operate on the Georgetown-Union Station and Woodley Park-Adams Morgan-McPherson Square routes beginning at 12 pm and ending at 5 pm. Buses will operate on 20-minute headways. DC Circulator is following the service resumption plan announced by WMATA for Metrobus earlier today.”

*****

Some restaurants and retailers were open yesterday and today.

– Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse is open.
https://www.facebook.com/drafthouse

The Wizards game on Monday, Jan. 25, will be played as scheduled at Verizon Center.

http://wizardstoday.monumentalnetwork.com/2016/01/25/wizards-celtics-game-to-be-played-as-scheduled

https://twitter.com/Monumentalntwrk
http://verizoncenter.monumentalnetwork.com/events/

[lordofthemark]

Queen of the Mark and I walked to Shirlington. Lots of places open here. 4MRT upto Walter Reed had occasional ice patches. I saw no cyclists, but probably more pedestrians than I have ever seen on the trail.

[ginacico]

Quick update, the Custis trail is clear down to pavement between EFC and the I-66 underpass, with some unavoidable patches of snow and ice in between dry spots.

Here’s a few pictures between McKinley and where it splits off from the W&OD.

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[ginacico]

The W&OD beyond the Custis split is still untreated. And snow was even more unavoidable right before the I-66 underpass.

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[PotomacCyclist]

As noted in the lengthy post above, all area governments (including the federal government) are closed tomorrow. All school systems are closed. (Verify with the websites for your local system just to be sure. Links to all websites are included in the post above.) MetroRail will only operate on underground lines in and connecting to central DC. (All rides will be free on Monday.) Metrobus is only operating a very limited schedule on certain routes and partial routes.

Some school systems have already announced closures for Tue. as well.

Possible rain on Tue. night/Wed. morning along with some flurries or light snow. Weather Underground forecasts less than an inch of snow, if there is any measurable accumulation at all.

But on Thursday night, there could be ice pellets, with an accumulation overnight of 1 to 3 inches. I’m not sure if that means ice, snow or ice/snow mix. It’s possible that roads and trails will be in rough condition on Friday morning.

[Steve O]

Text from Arlington alert:
“Use Caution Today
Melting snow/ice is falling from building roofs. Stay off the roads by foot & car to provide crews time to clean up.”

Hmm. One word seems to be conspicuously missing….😎

[Steve O]

The Custis Trail east of the Underpass of Eternal Darkness has 3-4 inches of snow. Not rideable for me, but possibly with a fat bike or mountain bike with low gearing and knobby tires. It will be hard work, even if you can ride it, if they don’t clear it a little more.
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(photo taken at Harrison St.)

[Rockford10]

Mike’s parking lot was in the process of being cleared when DKel and I rode past this afternoon. While they may open late tomorrow, they will be open for Monday (Morning) Pancake Club. (OK, it looks like they opened at 11:00 this morning. A little late for on-the-way-to-work.)

In Falls Church City, Spring Street across Rt. 7 was great, and Park and West streets north of Rt. 7 were good. West St. south of Rt. 7 didn’t look good. We doubled back through Park and Spring to get home.

[mikoglaces]

@Steve O 133165 wrote:

The Custis Trail east of the Underpass of Eternal Darkness has 3-4 inches of snow. Not rideable for me, but possibly with a fat bike or mountain bike with low gearing and knobby tires. It will be hard work, even if you can ride it, if they don’t clear it a little more.
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(photo taken at Harrison St.)

Is it just one section. Earlier poster ginacico posted Custis was clear. Trying to plan Monday commute. Washington Blvd to Clarendon Blvd if Custis impassable.

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@Rockford10 133168 wrote:

Mike’s parking lot was in the process of being cleared when DKel and I rode past this afternoon. While they may open late tomorrow, they will be open for Monday (Morning) Pancake Club. (OK, it looks like they opened at 11:00 this morning. A little late for on-the-way-to-work.).

Monday Morning Pancake Breakfast at Mike’s
I got there too early last week. I’m planning on arriving around 8:30 and pray they’re open–No work for me tomorrow!

[Steve O]

@mikoglaces 133177 wrote:

Is it just one section. Earlier poster ginacico posted Custis was clear. Trying to plan Monday commute. Washington Blvd to Clarendon Blvd if Custis impassable.

I don’t know. I only tried that one spot and then carried my bike back to the street. Boomer also indicated clear, but his picture is way out at Van Buren, and I don’t believe he actually rode it in. No one I know has tried to ride it east of the U of ED. Eyeballing from the Harrison Street bridge seemed to indicate the same condition as shown in this photo in each direction as far as I could see (which isn’t all that far).

[mikoglaces]

@Steve O 133186 wrote:

I don’t know. I only tried that one spot and then carried my bike back to the street. Boomer also indicated clear, but his picture is way out at Van Buren, and I don’t believe he actually rode it in. No one I know has tried to ride it east of the U of ED. Eyeballing from the Harrison Street bridge seemed to indicate the same condition as shown in this photo in each direction as far as I could see (which isn’t all that far).

Thanks.

[baiskeli]

@Steve O 133165 wrote:

The Custis Trail east of the Underpass of Eternal Darkness has 3-4 inches of snow. Not rideable for me, but possibly with a fat bike or mountain bike with low gearing and knobby tires. It will be hard work, even if you can ride it, if they don’t clear it a little more.
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(photo taken at Harrison St.)

Skiable though!

[Author]

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