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| As commuters struggle back to work, storm’s aftermath still chokes rail lines | As commuters struggle back to work, storm’s aftermath still chokes rail lines |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Returning to normal after being buried by two feet of snow proved daunting Tuesday, as plows struggled into neighborhoods, and snow and ice clogged Metro rail lines and snarled traffic made it tough for Washington area residents returning to work. | |
| Meanwhile, rain showers threatened to turn roads and sidewalks treacherously slick when temperatures drop overnight, eroding Tuesday’s progress. | Meanwhile, rain showers threatened to turn roads and sidewalks treacherously slick when temperatures drop overnight, eroding Tuesday’s progress. |
| Metro aimed to resume full service on all but the Silver Line at 5 a.m. Tuesday, but those plans changed when overnight tests on the western portion of the Orange Line ran into snow and ice on the electrified third rail, which powers the system. | Metro aimed to resume full service on all but the Silver Line at 5 a.m. Tuesday, but those plans changed when overnight tests on the western portion of the Orange Line ran into snow and ice on the electrified third rail, which powers the system. |
| Metro said it decided to keep four Orange Line stations closed, a move that combined with the closing of the Silver Line, limited rail options for many residents of the Virginia suburbs. Compounding problems, many riders weren’t aware of the shutdown until after their arrival at the stations, where they encountered long, cold waits for shuttle buses. | Metro said it decided to keep four Orange Line stations closed, a move that combined with the closing of the Silver Line, limited rail options for many residents of the Virginia suburbs. Compounding problems, many riders weren’t aware of the shutdown until after their arrival at the stations, where they encountered long, cold waits for shuttle buses. |
| The agency said Tuesday afternoon that it was unsure if Silver Line service would be restored by Wednesday morning. Trains will run every eight minutes on the other five lines with buses operating on a moderate service schedule, Metro said. | |
| [Live updates on Metro service and more this morning] | [Live updates on Metro service and more this morning] |
| On the roads, most major highways reopened and snowplows turned to secondary roads, but officials warned that it may be days before they reach into the warren of residential streets to excavate homeowners snowbound since Friday. | On the roads, most major highways reopened and snowplows turned to secondary roads, but officials warned that it may be days before they reach into the warren of residential streets to excavate homeowners snowbound since Friday. |
| They also feared the continued thawing Wednesday could cause flooding in low-lying areas. | They also feared the continued thawing Wednesday could cause flooding in low-lying areas. |
| D.C. public schools will reopen Wednesday, while Fairfax, Prince George’s and several of the region’s major systems will remain closed. | D.C. public schools will reopen Wednesday, while Fairfax, Prince George’s and several of the region’s major systems will remain closed. |
| Most U.S. post offices in the region reopened, but delivery service was expected to remain spotty because mail carriers often could not reach homes and businesses. | Most U.S. post offices in the region reopened, but delivery service was expected to remain spotty because mail carriers often could not reach homes and businesses. |
| [Today’s forecast: Showers could help melt some snow] | [Today’s forecast: Showers could help melt some snow] |
| Grace Lin, a lawyer in the District who lives in McLean, said she went to bed Monday night after hearing that Metro was going to be running, but she always had her doubts. | Grace Lin, a lawyer in the District who lives in McLean, said she went to bed Monday night after hearing that Metro was going to be running, but she always had her doubts. |
| At 6 a.m. Tuesday, she said, she checked Metro’s website “just to see, because their accuracy is not always good.” She saw there were no trains on part of the Orange Line. | At 6 a.m. Tuesday, she said, she checked Metro’s website “just to see, because their accuracy is not always good.” She saw there were no trains on part of the Orange Line. |
| “Immediately I’m thinking, ‘Can I just stay home?’ ” | “Immediately I’m thinking, ‘Can I just stay home?’ ” |
| According to the transit agency, here’s why: | According to the transit agency, here’s why: |
| Metro work crews spent the weekend and Monday plowing — and replowing– the system’s 60-plus route-miles of above-ground rails during and immediately after the blizzard, General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld said. | Metro work crews spent the weekend and Monday plowing — and replowing– the system’s 60-plus route-miles of above-ground rails during and immediately after the blizzard, General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld said. |
| Hulking, diesel-fueled rail cars called “prime movers,” with plow blades in front, pushed snow to the sides of the tracks, Wiedefeld said. After more snow accumulated, it, too, was plowed. Behind the plow blades, large scrapers attached to the rail cars ripped ice off the third rails, which carry electricity that powers subway trains. Then a liquid de-icer was sprayed on the third rails. | Hulking, diesel-fueled rail cars called “prime movers,” with plow blades in front, pushed snow to the sides of the tracks, Wiedefeld said. After more snow accumulated, it, too, was plowed. Behind the plow blades, large scrapers attached to the rail cars ripped ice off the third rails, which carry electricity that powers subway trains. Then a liquid de-icer was sprayed on the third rails. |
| Unlike snow-removal crews on roads, Metro does not have an efficient way of moving plowed snow farther from its tracks, Wiedefeld said. He said this is because the rails are mostly in confined spaces, flanked by chain-link fences or retaining walls. | Unlike snow-removal crews on roads, Metro does not have an efficient way of moving plowed snow farther from its tracks, Wiedefeld said. He said this is because the rails are mostly in confined spaces, flanked by chain-link fences or retaining walls. |
| So the snow often drifts back onto the third rails, causing more ice. | So the snow often drifts back onto the third rails, causing more ice. |
| “The trains are losing [contact] with the third rail and becoming disabled,” Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said Tuesday. “Part of it is ongoing ice and snow buildup. The snow banks are higher than the third rail, and the snow continues to get onto the third rail,” causing them to “ice over.” | “The trains are losing [contact] with the third rail and becoming disabled,” Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said Tuesday. “Part of it is ongoing ice and snow buildup. The snow banks are higher than the third rail, and the snow continues to get onto the third rail,” causing them to “ice over.” |
| He said: “The last thing we want to do is put passengers out on the railroad where [trains] become disabled.” | He said: “The last thing we want to do is put passengers out on the railroad where [trains] become disabled.” |
| Across the region, the work of cleanup crews on roads was complicated by the fact that the massive amount snow could not be shoved aside easily in many places. Much of the snow had to be hauled to open spaces, creating mountains that will take weeks or months to melt. | Across the region, the work of cleanup crews on roads was complicated by the fact that the massive amount snow could not be shoved aside easily in many places. Much of the snow had to be hauled to open spaces, creating mountains that will take weeks or months to melt. |
| In Loudoun County, where 36 inches of snow fell in some areas, two Virginia Department of Transportation snow plows damaged their blades while carving through the stubborn mounds of snow and ice. | In Loudoun County, where 36 inches of snow fell in some areas, two Virginia Department of Transportation snow plows damaged their blades while carving through the stubborn mounds of snow and ice. |
| “This equipment being worked that hard, it’s not uncommon to have some breakdowns and some issues with machinery,” said VDOT spokeswoman Jennifer McCord. | “This equipment being worked that hard, it’s not uncommon to have some breakdowns and some issues with machinery,” said VDOT spokeswoman Jennifer McCord. |
| Facing an increasingly impatient public, Virginia, the District and Montgomery County have all said they plan to have neighborhood roads “passable” by early Wednesday morning. | Facing an increasingly impatient public, Virginia, the District and Montgomery County have all said they plan to have neighborhood roads “passable” by early Wednesday morning. |
| Officials acknowledged they might miss some stretches, and said residents should report those instances Wednesday morning. | Officials acknowledged they might miss some stretches, and said residents should report those instances Wednesday morning. |
| VDOT promised to have one lane passable in all subdivisions by 6 a.m. Wednesday. They defined passable as something a rear-wheel-drive car can get through safely. District emergency management chief Christopher Geldart said that’s the city’s goal as well. | VDOT promised to have one lane passable in all subdivisions by 6 a.m. Wednesday. They defined passable as something a rear-wheel-drive car can get through safely. District emergency management chief Christopher Geldart said that’s the city’s goal as well. |
| Montgomery County pointed to a 7 a.m. goal. By that time, spokesman Patrick Lacefield said, “All of our neighborhood roads should have gotten a pass from a plow...All neighborhood roads should be passable, and by passable we mean you can get out. It doesn’t mean bare pavement.” | Montgomery County pointed to a 7 a.m. goal. By that time, spokesman Patrick Lacefield said, “All of our neighborhood roads should have gotten a pass from a plow...All neighborhood roads should be passable, and by passable we mean you can get out. It doesn’t mean bare pavement.” |
| The neighbors in a small enclave of North Potomac decided to take their plowing problem into their own hands. Many had shoveled out their cars and driveways, but the snow in the street was about two and a half feet, making it impossible to drive. | The neighbors in a small enclave of North Potomac decided to take their plowing problem into their own hands. Many had shoveled out their cars and driveways, but the snow in the street was about two and a half feet, making it impossible to drive. |
| Some were running out of groceries. Others had to get back to work, with their offices reopening. One family needed to get a child to a doctor—nothing overly serious, but a concern. Many were feeling stir-crazy. | Some were running out of groceries. Others had to get back to work, with their offices reopening. One family needed to get a child to a doctor—nothing overly serious, but a concern. Many were feeling stir-crazy. |
| Rachel Boxman, 47, says she and others were not convinced that Montgomery County’s cleanup crews – who were clearing so many miles of snow-packed roads - would get to their subdivision any time soon. | Rachel Boxman, 47, says she and others were not convinced that Montgomery County’s cleanup crews – who were clearing so many miles of snow-packed roads - would get to their subdivision any time soon. |
| So they hired a plow. | So they hired a plow. |
| Late Monday afternoon, the plow showed up and removed snow for 90 minutes , at a cost of $375, which many of the 40 neighbors are sharing. The same driver had plowed another area street a day earlier, which is how Boxman heard of him. | Late Monday afternoon, the plow showed up and removed snow for 90 minutes , at a cost of $375, which many of the 40 neighbors are sharing. The same driver had plowed another area street a day earlier, which is how Boxman heard of him. |
| “People were really happy,” she said. “They were so grateful. I think we’re all feeling more normal now.” | “People were really happy,” she said. “They were so grateful. I think we’re all feeling more normal now.” |
| Boxman celebrated by going out to dinner Monday night with her family, as well a niece and a friend. At the restaurant, they talked to a number of other diners about being snowed in. | Boxman celebrated by going out to dinner Monday night with her family, as well a niece and a friend. At the restaurant, they talked to a number of other diners about being snowed in. |
| “We all said how lucky we were to escape,” she said. | “We all said how lucky we were to escape,” she said. |
| [Full list of what’s closed on Tuesday] | [Full list of what’s closed on Tuesday] |
| [Pedestrians practice the extreme sport of traveling D.C.’s sidewalks] | [Pedestrians practice the extreme sport of traveling D.C.’s sidewalks] |
| [10 amazing Snowzilla timelapses] | [10 amazing Snowzilla timelapses] |
| [How this one ranks among D.C.’s biggest snowstorms] | [How this one ranks among D.C.’s biggest snowstorms] |
| [Were you a blizzard wimp or warrior?] | [Were you a blizzard wimp or warrior?] |
| Robert McCartney, Dana Hedgepeth, Antonio Olivo, Katherine Shaver and Faiz Siddiqui contributed to this report. | Robert McCartney, Dana Hedgepeth, Antonio Olivo, Katherine Shaver and Faiz Siddiqui contributed to this report. |