Community Update: Snow & Ice Storm Cleanup Operations 

February 12, 2026

• Crews have widened Bunker Hill Road between 34th Street and 37th Street.
• Crews have widened 34th Street between Rhode Island Avenue and Eastern Avenue.
• Crews are currently clearing 34th Street beyond the business corridor (Snow Emergency Route).

Upcoming Work:

Our crew will continue widening up the snow emergency routes. These routes include,

• 34th Street from Eastern Avenue to Arundel Road
• Chillum Road from Arundel Road to the City boundary at Queens Chapel Road, MD Route 500
• Rainier Avenue from 34th Street to Upshur Street
• Upshur Street from Rainier Avenue to 28th Place
• 28th Place from Upshur Street to Russel Avenue
• Russel Avenue from 28th Place to Arundel Road
• Varnum Street from Russel Avenue to Eastern Avenue
• Arundel Road from Russel Avenue to 34th Street

Our crew will then move on to further widen the remaining roads throughout the city as conditions allow. As cleanup efforts continue, please stay alert for updates from the City, as residents may be asked to refrain from street parking to allow our crews to clear the roads as thoroughly and safely as possible.

Staffing & Operations:

• Eight-person staff and crew
• Crews are averaging 10–14-hour workdays.
• Crews have been working every day since Saturday, January 24^th. 
• Equipment in use includes snowplow trucks, a bobcat, salt spreaders, shovels, and a snow blower.

Inter-Agency Coordination:

• The State Highway Administration (SHA) has completed cleanup from Eastern Avenue to 37th Street. They will return next week to remove additional snow.
• Cleanup in all M-NCPPC parks has been completed

DPW appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation as crews continue this work safely and efficiently. Updates will be shared as operations progress.

Community Update: Snow & Ice Storm Cleanup Operations 

February 9, 2026

Crews have begun widening roads as much as possible on Bunker Hill Roads starting at 33^rd Street

• Rainier Avenue along the snow emergency route has been widened
• Crosswalk corners along Arundel Road between 32^nd Street and 29^th Street have been cleared

Upcoming Work:

Our crew will continue widening up the snow emergency routes. These routes include,

• 34th Street from Eastern Avenue to Arundel Road
• Chillum Road from Arundel Road to the City boundary at Queens Chapel Road, MD Route 500
• Rainier Avenue from 34th Street to Upshur Street
• Upshur Street from Rainier Avenue to 28th Place
• 28th Place from Upshur Street to Russel Avenue
• Russel Avenue from 28th Place to Arundel Road
• Varnum Street from Russel Avenue to Eastern Avenue
• Arundel Road from Russel Avenue to 34th Street

Our crews will then move on to further widen the remaining roads throughout the city as conditions allow. As cleanup efforts continue, please stay alert for updates from the City, as residents may be asked to refrain from street parking to allow our crews to clear the roads as thoroughly and safely as possible.

Staffing & Operations:

• Eight staff and crew members in the DPW 
• Crews averaging 10–14-hour workdays.
• Crews have been working every day since Saturday, January 24^th. 
• Equipment in use includes snowplow trucks, a bobcat, salt spreaders, shovels, and a snow blower.

Inter-Agency Coordination:

• The State Highway Administration (SHA) has completed cleanup from Eastern Avenue to 37^th Street. 
• Cleanup in M-NCPPC parks has been completed, with the exception of Upshur Street Park between 34^th and Upshur. M-NCPPC is aware and are working on getting this location cleared within the next two days.  

DPW appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation as crews continue this work safely and efficiently. Updates will be shared as operations progress.

Community Update: Snow & Ice Storm Cleanup Operations

February 6, 2026

The City of Mount Rainier Department of Public Works (DPW) continues to make steady progress following the recent snow and ice storm, which quickly transitioned from snow to solid ice due to prolonged freezing temperatures. These conditions slowed plowing and final cleanup efforts, but crews have been working extended hours to keep all roadways passable and address priority areas throughout the city.

Today’s Update:

• Both sides of 34th Street business corridor has been completed
• Memorial Park sidewalks have been cleared
• Crosswalks along Rhode Island Avenue have been cleared and made accessible.
• Crews have begun widening roads as much as possible on Bunker Hill Roads starting at 33^rd Street.

Upcoming Work:

Our crew will begin widening up the snow emergency routes. These routes include,

• 34th Street from Eastern Avenue to Arundel Road
• Chillum Road from Arundel Road to the City boundary at Queens Chapel Road, MD Route 500
• Rainier Avenue from 34th Street to Upshur Street
• Upshur Street from Rainier Avenue to 28th Place
• 28th Place from Upshur Street to Russel Avenue
• Russel Avenue from 28th Place to Arundel Road
• Varnum Street from Russel Avenue to Eastern Avenue
• Arundel Road from Russel Avenue to 34th Street

In addition to targeted cleanup, DPW crews continue to drive citywide to salt roadways and push snow back out of travel lanes after it has been redeposited by vehicle movement.

Staffing & Operations:

• Six-person DPW crew
• Crews averaging 10–14 hour workdays.
• Crews have been working everyday since Saturday, January 24^th. 
• Equipment in use includes snowplow trucks, a bobcat, salt spreaders, shovels, and a snow blower.

Inter-Agency Coordination:

• The State Highway Administration (SHA) has completed cleanup from the traffic circle to Eastern Avenue. Additional work is still needed from the circle to 37th Street, and the City is awaiting their return.
• Cleanup in M-NCPPC parks has been completed, with the exception of Upshur Street Park between 34^th and Upshur and the Skate Park on Otis Street. M-NCPPC is aware and are working on getting the two locations cleared. 

DPW appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation as crews continue this work safely and efficiently. Updates will be shared as operations progress.

Department of Public Works Shares Snow and Ice Storm Clean-Up Operations Report

Published: February 3, 2026

Following the recent winter storm, the City of Mount Rainier Department of Public Works (DPW) is providing snow and ice clearing operations report. 

 Summary

The Department of Public Works conducted extensive snow and ice response operations following a winter storm that quickly transitioned from snow to solid ice due to prolonged freezing temperatures. These conditions significantly slowed plowing and final cleanup efforts. Despite these challenges, DPW crews worked extended hours to keep all roadways passable and address priority locations.

In addition to the streets noted, crews have been driving citywide on a continuous basis to salt roadways and push snow back out of travel lanes after it has been deposited back onto the streets during vehicle cleanup.

Staffing, Hours, and Equipment

• Staffing: Six‑person DPW crew
• Hours averages at about 10-14 hours per day.
• Equipment: Snowplow trucks, bobcat, salt spreaders, shovels, snow blower 

Completed Areas

• 34th Street business corridor (right side)
• Bunker Hill Road (29th–34th Street)
• Shepherd Street (28th–34th Street)
• Intersections along 31st and 32nd Streets (Upshur, Varnum, Webster, Windom, Perry)
• Alley behind Thomas Stone Elementary School (Webster)
• Taylor Street (28th–29th Street)
• Arundel Road & 34th Street
• Bunker Hill & 35th Street
• Wells Avenue & 37th Street
• All City-owned parks 

Ongoing Work

Crews will resume cleanup and widening along the 34th Street business corridor as temperatures allow.

Memorial Park is currently solid ice due to prolonged freezing temperatures, and crews will work to remove as much snow as possible as conditions permit.

Inter-agency Notes

SHA completed cleanup from the circle to Eastern Avenue; additional work is needed from the circle to 37th Street. SHA will be returning to complete their cleanup efforts.

M‑NCPPC has not completed cleanup in their parks as of February 3, 2026. They have been contacted by my department.

The bus terminal on Rhode Island Avenue has been cleared by WMATA on 1/28/26.

There have been two (2) water main breaks at 37^th and Bunker Hill and 34^th and Perry.