‘That money is gone:’ VDOT Snow Budget Depleted After January Storm

Updated 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 5 – As another major snowstorm blankets Stafford County with over six inches of snow on February 11, 2025, local officials are grappling with Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) depleted snow removal budget, which was exhausted by a previous winter storm on January 5–6.

During a Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting on February 6, 2025, VDOT Residency Administrator Kyle Bates delivered a stark warning about the agency’s financial limitations.

“That money is gone. It’s gone. Our snow budget was that one storm,” Bates said.

The January 5–6, 2025 storm, known as Storm Blair, was a major winter weather event that severely impacted the region. Stafford County received up to 8 inches of snow, while Fredericksburg recorded between 5 and 6.3 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm led to hazardous road conditions, multiple traffic incidents, and widespread travel disruptions. Reagan National Airport reported more than 200 flight cancellations due to the heavy snowfall.

VDOT’s Winter Weather Response & Budget

While VDOT’s initial snow removal budget has been exhausted, the agency has emphasized that it allocates resources as needed to respond to severe weather, regardless of initial estimates.

“VDOT estimates what will be spent each year on snow removal based on storms in prior years, but it is an estimate,” a VDOT spokeswoman Kelly Hannon explained. “It is used for planning purposes within the agency’s overall maintenance budget, but VDOT will always devote the resources needed to respond to severe weather.”

For the February 11–12 storm, VDOT mobilized staff and equipment at Level 5, its highest response level, to match the forecasted six or more inches of snow in the Fredericksburg area.

VDOT has a statewide weather response budget of $222 million for the 2024–2025 winter season, slightly higher than the $220 million allocated for the 2023–2024 season. However, funding is distributed based on district-specific equipment needs, historical weather trends, and overall maintenance priorities.

“Each district has an estimated budget for weather response within this larger number, but it is a planning tool. Needs fluctuate district to district each year, and the maintenance budget is intended to support needs statewide,” Hannon continued.

Ongoing Challenges for Snow Removal

With the February 11 storm continuing to impact local roads, residents are expressing concerns about how VDOT will handle additional snowfall.

During the meeting, Bates acknowledged the difficulty of plowing secondary and residential roads, stating that VDOT had to bring in additional motor graders from across Virginia during the January 5–6 storm due to the extreme ice accumulation.

“Motor graders were brought in from across Virginia to clear compacted snow and ice,” Bates said.

Infrastructure and Safety Concerns

Beyond the immediate challenge of winter weather, Bates also updated the board on critical road infrastructure projects, including:

• Falmouth Bridge (Route 1 over the Rappahannock River), where northbound lanes remain closed due to structural concerns, with emergency repairs underway.
• Leland Road (Route 626) widening project, scheduled for 2028, to improve traffic flow and pedestrian access.
• Pedestrian safety improvements, including new crossings at Prim Road, Plantation Drive, and Parkway Boulevard.