A winter trip from a neighborhood street to work or school can cross city roads, county roads and a state highway. Each agency has its own snow-response plan. Knowing who maintains your route helps you find the right map and understand which roads crews will reach first.
In a Nov. 2 update, Snohomish County Public Works said its crews' training over the past couple of weeks covered established routes, procedures and fitting tire chains.
County roads: main routes may need several passes
Snohomish County sets snow-route priorities using traffic volume, transit and school-bus routes, terrain and known trouble spots. During a storm, crews may need to plow higher-priority roads repeatedly before moving to lower-priority streets.
The county's Snow and Ice Response page links to its removal map, showing roads recently plowed, sanded or treated with anti-icer. It also links to the county road-closure map. State highways are maintained separately.
Requests for county plowing are recorded, but they do not change the priority order. Crews address lower-priority residential routes as resources allow. For county road inquiries, call 425-388-7500.
Marysville and Arlington use their own city plans
In Marysville, crews focus on major streets entering and leaving the city, hilly arterials, fire and police access, and other arterials. The city's snow and ice page includes its control plan and route map.
Marysville says it lacks the resources and equipment to plow or sand residential neighborhood streets and cul-de-sacs. That distinction matters when planning the short stretch between home and a main road. Garbage collection may also be affected when a neighborhood is unsafe for trucks to enter.
Arlington's Street Maintenance page links to its snow-removal map. Its priorities include busy streets connecting neighborhoods, public-safety routes, roads serving hospitals and schools, and transit routes. Additional streets are addressed as time and equipment allow. The city identifies state routes 9 and 530 as WSDOT-maintained highways.
State highways have a separate set of priorities
WSDOT's snow and ice plan explains how traffic, difficult terrain and access to emergency services, schools, businesses and freight routes shape its priorities. The page links to a statewide priority map.
WSDOT says even its around-the-clock storm response can require repeated passes. Treat a priority map as a planning tool, then check current conditions before deciding whether to travel.
Give crews room to work
Snohomish County recommends staying at least 200 feet behind working snowplows and deicers. Move garbage bins and other obstacles out of their way, avoid shoveling snow into the roadway, and keep nearby drainage inlets clear of leaves and debris.
For rain and rising rivers, our county flood-resource guide brings together gauges, alerts and road-closure tools.
Information checked November 3, 2026. The linked plans explain agency practices; use official updates for current conditions.
