Snow equipment sidelined

Gabe Klein, director of the District Department of Transportation, said 25 percent of the city's snow equipment, including plows, were out of service early Tuesday due to wear and tear. He said that was not unusual given the magnitude of the storm. Klein estimated that repairs would improve the number to 10 percent by Tuesday night.

Robert Marsili, citywide program manager in charge of snow removal, echoed Kleiin's comments that that breakdowns were not unusual given the significance of the snowfall and the amount that has to be cleared.

"It's not oil changes. It's transmissions, clutches, or it's the actual snow equipment. Maybe the spreader has stopped working. " Marsili said.