Washington-area residents on Monday cautiously tried to return to life as usual, some venturing to work on icy sidewalks and slow-running subway trains while others continued to shovel out from the record weekend snowfall and regroup before the next looming storm.
Federal agencies canceled work today for its roughly 230,000 employees in the region, and most school districts were closed. But thousands of service-industry workers and other employees were waiting at subway stations when the gates swung open at 7 a.m., two hours later than usual.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the region's transportation agency, still is not running trains through above-ground stations, following the roughly 2 feet of snow that fell from Friday night through late Saturday afternoon. The agency at midday reported delays on all subway lines and "very limited" bus service, along many main roads still covered in snow.
The region's three major airports -- Reagan National, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall and Washington Dulles International -- were all open by mid-morning. However, officials advised passengers to expect delays and cancellations.
Amtrak said its Acela Express service between Washington and Boston on the Northeast Corridor is operating at full schedule but its Northeast Regional service will have some cancellations.
Some service is disrupted because the heavy, wet snow downed trees and power lines, including some on sections of freight tracks in Virginia.
Thousands in the region were still without power this afternoon.
Maryland and District official said at midday that main highways are passable as snow removal continues amid near-freezing temperatures.
Maryland State Highway Administration spokeswoman Mariska Jordan said most of the state's interstates and main roads are drivable. However, freezing temperatures have left some roads icy.
The D.C. Department of Transportation said cleanup is on schedule. The city tries to have main streets clear within 36 hours of the end of a storm. Department spokeswoman Karyn Le Blanc said they've met that goal.
