Winter is Coming
BOSTON – Monday, December 13, 2021 – Mayor Michelle Wu today joined City officials at the Public Works yard on Frontage Road to discuss winter preparations currently underway in the City of Boston, and resources available to residents, including older adults and individuals experiencing homelessness.
“I am so grateful to the team from many departments and several different cabinets that come together to ensure that our streets will be safe and that our residents will be warm, supported and connected to everything that they need,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we continue to manage amidst a global pandemic, winter will be the next phase of how we’re supporting all of our residents.”
The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) monitors forecasts and maintains open lines of communication with the National Weather Service. OEM also works across City departments and with external partners to ensure coordinated response plans are in place. Residents can sign up to receive AlertBoston notifications by phone, text, or email in the event a snow emergency/parking ban is declared.
The Public Works Department (PWD) currently has 40,000 tons of salt on-hand to treat City streets. Along with 164 pieces of in-house snow clearing equipment, the PWD has the capability to place over 800 additional pieces on the roads during larger storms. As part of their neighborhood plowing operations during winter storms and to ensure the safety of riders following events, PWD allocates pieces of equipment to clear snow from Boston’s dedicated bike lanes.
Rules on clearing snow:
- Property owners must fully clear snow, sleet, and ice from sidewalks and curb ramps abutting the property within three hours after the snowfall ends or three hours after sunrise if the snow ends overnight. Curb and pedestrian ramps to the street should be cleared fully and continually over the duration of the storm to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities. If a storm will last over an extended period of time, property owners are asked to continually check ramps abutting their property for compliance.
- Removal of snow, ice from private property to the street or sidewalk is prohibited.
- Failure to comply with the rules can result in fines issued by PWD’s Code Enforcement Division. Fines associated with improper removal of snow can be found here.
Parking during a declared snow emergency:
- If a snow emergency is declared, cars will be ticketed and towed if parked on a posted snow emergency artery. Space savers must be removed within 48 hours after a snow emergency has been lifted. Please note: space savers are NOT allowed in the South End.</…….
Source: https://caughtindot.com/mayor-wu-shares-bostons-winter-weather-preparations/