Baltimore Mayor Urges Patience as City Digs Out from Ice and Snow

Crews work to clear streets, sidewalks, and bus stops amid challenging winter conditions.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:55pm

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Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has urged residents to be patient as the city works to clear packed ice and snow from roads, sidewalks, and bus stops following a major winter storm. The mayor acknowledged the difficult conditions, saying the city is using specialized equipment like bobcats to access narrower streets and sidewalks, but the process is slow. Some residents have expressed frustration with the dangerous conditions, while the city has touted its Snow Corps program to assist vulnerable residents with snow removal.

Why it matters

The winter storm has created significant challenges for Baltimore's infrastructure and transportation, impacting the daily lives of residents. The mayor's call for patience highlights the city's efforts to respond, but also the need for improved winter weather preparedness and accessibility for all community members.

The details

Baltimore is using 700 pieces of equipment to clear the snow and ice, including specialized bobcats to access narrower streets and sidewalks. Mayor Scott said the process is slow due to the layers of ice that have accumulated. Some residents, like Amber Kreitzer, have reported dangerous conditions at bus stops, forcing them to walk and wait in the street. The city's Clean Corps program has also been working to clear bus stops to improve access and safety.

  • The State of Emergency declaration issued by Mayor Scott on Friday, January 23rd remains in effect.
  • Phase II of Baltimore City's Snow Emergency Plan has ended, allowing residents to resume parking along designated snow emergency routes.
  • Baltimore City Government Offices had a two-hour delayed opening for non-essential employees on Thursday.
  • Baltimore City recreation centers will reopen under regular hours on Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • The Circuit Court for Baltimore City, including all courthouse buildings, opened under their regular operating schedule on Thursday.

The players

Brandon Scott

The mayor of Baltimore who has urged residents to be patient as the city works to clear the snow and ice.

Amber Kreitzer

A Baltimore resident who has expressed frustration with the dangerous conditions at bus stops, saying she has nearly been hit by cars while waiting in the street.

Ronald Charles

A supervisor with Baltimore's Clean Corps program, which has been working to clear ice and snow from bus stops to improve access and safety.

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What they’re saying

“We will not stop until we get to every single place and every single person who has called 311, but that will take time as we've been stating since the beginning of the storm.”

— Brandon Scott, Mayor of Baltimore

“Folks have to understand this is not just about the snow that accumulated but now the ice on top of it, and many of our larger pieces of equipment can't get down streets.”

— Brandon Scott, Mayor of Baltimore

“It's not easy because you've got to watch out for the cars. I'm sure they're not watching out for you. Yesterday, I almost got hit twice by a car. A lot of times people are driving slowly, but most of the time they're not. You can't access the bus stops. You've got to stand in the street. You can't stand where the actual bus stop is. You can't stand in the shelter because it's covered in snow.”

— Amber Kreitzer

“People need to be able to get to the bus, so this helps people. It's one of our priorities to get to this bus stop and get it cleaned up and make sure people can commute safely.”

— Ronald Charles, Supervisor, Baltimore Clean Corps

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This storm highlights the need for improved winter weather preparedness and accessibility in Baltimore, ensuring all residents can safely navigate the city's streets and access public transportation during challenging conditions.