Who will you be listening to the next time it snows in Arlington — Saline Dion or Taylor Drift?
The results of Arlington’s snowplow naming contest are in, with puns aplenty.
This season, the county’s fleet of 60 plow-salt trucks will all bear names suggested by the community and picked by the Dept. of Environmental Services. From over 1,200 suggestions, the county’s three favorite names were Plowy McPlowface, Mr. Plow and, yes, Taylor Drift.
Other winners included Alex Snowvechkin, CTRL-SALT-DEL, Saline Dion and Plow You Doin’?
All 60 names will appear on Arlington’s snow activity map, where residents can track the progress of local snowplows if two or more inches of snow accumulate.
Forecasters have predicted another relatively mild winter in Northern Virginia, with more ice and rain than snow. Just four to 10 inches total are expected in Arlington, compared to eight inches last season.
In the event of a snowstorm, a total of 45 county-owned trucks and 15 contracted ones will clear 1,059 miles of roads, along with trails, bike lanes, bridges and bus stops.
Property owners, meanwhile, are required to clear all snow and ice from public sidewalks adjacent to their property. This needs to happen within 24 hours of a snowfall of less than six inches, or within 36 hours of a snowfall greater than six inches.
The county offers the following advice to residents should a winter storm strike.
- Coordinate with neighbors to park cars on one side of the street, where feasible, or avoid on-street parking on narrow roads so plow operators can efficiently clear a wider span of roadway.
- Don’t park “head in” on cul-de-sacs, allowing plows more room to maneuver.
- Clear sidewalks, fire hydrants, storm drains and catch basins, tossing snow toward buildings and not the street. However, wait for plows to come before clearing snow from the front of driveways, to minimize the amount pushed back by plows.
- Stay home or use mass transit to reduce the number of potentially stranded vehicles.
- Apply only the recommended minimum of chemical deicers on sidewalks and driveways.
OK, OK. In case we don't get enough snow to activate the map this season, here's the complete list of snow plow names:https://t.co/Gv540HH0RV. pic.twitter.com/oZ1i7pTtlz
— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) December 5, 2024
