Will government offices be closed after the storm? (Arlington, Springfield: nurse, metro)

[LuvVA]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I've just heard that OPM does not care about that. All they care about is Metro, Metro, Metro.

Too bad, this is why they are so dysfunctional.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by LuvVA

Too bad, this is why they are so dysfunctional.

I don't know that I disagree with that approach. OPM decides they will open when the majority of people can get to work. Metro operability ensures that. Plus, they have a TON of people telework ready now if they open and the give the unscheduled telework option. I think there is a minority of people nowadays stuck on an unplowed side street who are not on a telework agreement.

[LuvVA]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I don't know that I disagree with that approach. OPM decides they will open when the majority of people can get to work. Metro operability ensures that. Plus, they have a TON of people telework ready now if they open and the give the unscheduled telework option. I think there is a minority of people nowadays stuck on an unplowed side street who are not on a telework agreement.

I believe they should check with local authorities like VDOT, police etc.

If you check facebook/twitter and news channels, everyone says 'Drivers, keep off the roads'.

I don't know how much they could clean up before tomorrow early morning commute.

In our residential community online forum, lot of people are complaining about road conditions and how bad they are. Only a few with 4X4 were able to go out to run errands.

If OPM decides to close one more day, that will help cleanup crews to finish up remaining work, and also temperature is expected to go up to 40 F, which would melt lot of snow and help the cleanup effort extensively.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by LuvVA

I believe they should check with local authorities like VDOT, police etc.

If you check facebook/twitter and news channels, everyone says 'Drivers, keep off the roads'.

I don't know how much they could clean up before tomorrow early morning commute.

In our residential community online forum, lot of people are complaining about road conditions and how bad they are. Only a few with 4X4 were able to go out to run errands.

If OPM decides to close one more day, that will help cleanup crews to finish up remaining work, and also temperature is expected to go up to 40 F, which would melt lot of snow and help the cleanup effort extensively.

I think they do check with the local authorities. There's always this big, secret phone call each day.

I was out driving this afternoon. I had one of the better snow experiences this year in that I was fully cleared out by yesterday. The temps were up to 40 and the sun was shining. Secondary roads were pretty safe and dry. Some other places were very wet. There were a few spots where the lane just ended. I don't care how many people stay off the road, the plows are not going to be able to push that stuff out now unless they are super-duper. I think they might be here to stay. The problem areas seemed to be coming out of neighborhoods. The snow humps are so high that they couldn't see me coming and I couldn't see them unless they were tall. I had two people pull out in front of me.

There is a LOT of foot traffic on major thoroughfares. These people seem to be walking a few miles to and from grocery stores. I understand they have to do it, but it's pretty dangerous.

Even with the closure today, there are LOTS of people out. They're bored and they are driving around.

[LuvVA]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I was out driving this afternoon. I had one of the better snow experiences this year

Glad you had a much better experience today.

Someone just told me that the ramps to toll road are a mess, not plowed. Hopefully they are cleared if OPM decides to keep the doors open tomorrow.

[slaminjamin87]

It will be reckless and insane if OPM decides to open tomorrow. There are plenty of neighborhoods that haven't been plowed yet and off ramps to major highways are a mess. Like I said yesterday, everything should resume back to normal on Wednesday except schools, which could be closed for reminder of this week.

[FCNova]

OPM may only care about metro but metrobus is part of that system, so road conditions definitely play a role in their decision. I don't think they expect all federal workers to live within walking distance of a metro station. With that said I have no idea what they'll do, if I had to guess I'd say open w 2 hr delay

[airjay75]

Metro GM just announced that all lines will be open tomorrow except Silver Line with trains coming once every 12 minutes on all lines. 79 bus routes will be running - called it something like severe weather service instead of the lifeline service today. I think OPM should still close tomorrow but I'm not going to be surprised if they do a delay with unscheduled telework/leave option - that'll probably keep enough people home for there not to be massive problems.

[airjay75]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...uesday-jan-26/

CWG Fedcast. They predict a 50% chance of closing tomorrow and 60% chance of a delayed opening. Telework/leave option a near certainty.

[smarterguy]

I'm leaning towards them closing... Most interstate on-ramps had no merge zone and require a full stop, inching up to see around snow. Coupled with some unplowed side streets. Opening today would have been reckless. Opening tomorrowing will just cause a traffic mess unless everyone who can work from home does. We shall see,... I'd rather expect them to be open and be pleasantly surprised when they do close. I'm just glad today wasnt my flex day lol.