Travel around the Washington area started to return to normal on Tuesday, three days after the weekend’s major snowstorm.
But local transportation officials said Wednesday likely would bring a full recovery of local transit service and the final plowing of streets.
The District scaled back its plowing operation by Tuesday and was focused on spot requests from residents. Montgomery County and Virginia transportation officials, meanwhile, said plows had made at least one pass through most streets.
“We’re trying to get everything wrapped up and mopped up,” said Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Joan Morris.
Metro returned to nearly normal service, running MetroAccess vans for all disabled riders for the first time since Saturday’s storm. But some Metrobuses in the District and Maryland had to run on alternative routes.
MARC and Virginia Railway Express both planned to resume regular service Wednesday.
Parking lots remain a concern because of large piles of snow. By Tuesday, Metro had cleared its lots so that only about 5 percent of parking spots were taken up with piles, down from 15 percent Monday.
Transportation agencies lucked out in some ways with the snow striking on the Saturday before Christmas, as major commuter routes are less crowded this week, save for packed shopping centers.
Metro had been expecting fewer riders this week, so it is running only six-car trains instead of eight-car trains during peak commutes. Demand for parking spots hasn’t been as high, said spokesman Steven Taubenkibel.
Still, AAA Mid-Atlantic had received 8,184 calls for roadside assistance by 3:15 p.m. Tuesday when the auto club usually receives 8,800 in 24 hours on a typical day.
The cost of the cleanup could be substantial. Maryland officials estimated the cost of removing the snow was nearly $27 million, according to the Associated Press, with the State Highway Administration spending $20 million of its $26 million snow removal budget.
Pedestrians also are still suffering as they waddle along unshoveled sidewalks and cross mountainous snowdrifts and slog through slush at intersections.
Officials are asking residents to make sure storm drains and fire hydrants are clear of ice. Rain is expected late Thursday so flooding could occur in clogged areas.
