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December 07, 2009
CITY ISSUES SNOW PROCEDURE REMINDERS
Rules and Regulations Remain Unchanged; Residents Urged to Sign Up for Connect CTY Alerts; As in Past Years, Street Sweeping Enforcement Suspended from December 31st to April 1st
SOMERVILLE - Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Public Works Commissioner Stanley Koty announced today that the City's snow regulations and procedures are in place for the 2009-10 winter season. Snow emergency procedures will remain unchanged going into this snow season, and Curtatone urged residents to review policies and procedures, and to sign up for the City's Connect-CTY telephone and e-mail notification systems in advance of the year's first storm. A snow emergency may be declared whenever four or more inches are predicted to fall.
"The New England winter may have been delayed by some unseasonably warm weather, but - as we saw this past weekend - it's finally here. As we enter snow season, it's important for all of us to review the City's policies and procedures relating to snow and ice removal, parking, and plowing," Curtatone said. "As always, the bottom line on these regulations is public safety. The City is committed to making storm cleanup as quick, easy and cost-effective as possible, but there are also measures that need to be taken by the public to help ensure our streets and sidewalks remain safe for pedestrians, and that the city's roadways stay open for emergency vehicles."
"One of the best ways to stay informed about snow emergencies and other urgent information by phone or email is to take advantage of our Connect CTY notifications," said Curtatone, " and it's easy to sign up by calling 311." Snow emergency information will also be available from the City's information hotline (617-628-SNOW), City cable channels (15 & 16 on Comcast, 13 & 15 on RCN), the City website, local television and radio stations, and via flashing lights installed at 22 major intersections at entryways to the City. The Somerville Police Department will also make announcements via loudspeakers during street patrols. Curtatone added that, as in past years, street sweeping enforcement will be suspended from December 31st until April 1st.
The City's Snow Emergency Policy is as follows:
- When the snow emergency is declared, parking is prohibited on the even side of the street, unless otherwise posted.
- Upon declaration of a snow emergency, residents will have four hours to move their cars to the odd side of the street. Residents are strongly advised to move their cars as soon as an emergency is declared in order to avoid confusion.
- Towing will commence immediately after the four-hour period has elapsed.
- Plowing will begin after two inches of snow has fallen. Main roads, cross-town streets, bus routes, and ‘hospital hills' will be given first priority. The intent of the City is to plow up to the curb on the even side of the street.
- After the snow emergency has been lifted, vehicles must be removed from municipal lots (listed below) within two hours.
- Vehicles are subject to towing after the two-hour window has expired.
- The DPW will plow driving lanes in parking lots during the storm. Parking lots will be completely cleared as soon as possible after the emergency is lifted.
- Permit parking enforcement will resume twenty-four hours after the snow emergency is lifted. It is the responsibility of residents to ensure that their resident or visitor-parking permits are visible.
In addition, property owners are responsible for clearing walkways following all snow events. Once the snow has stopped, property owners have six hours between sunrise and sunset to shovel the sidewalks in front, but should not shovel snow back onto plowed streets and intersections. Inspectional Services and Traffic and Parking officials will be patrolling streets following snow events, and will issue tickets to property owners failing to clear sidewalks. Tickets will be issued daily until sidewalks are cleared. Tickets not paid in full may result in a lien on said property.
Residents with no access to off-street parking may use these locations during a snow emergency:
- Argenziano School, 290 Washington St.
- Brown School, 201 Willow Ave
- Capuano Early Childhood Center, 150 Glen St
- Central Library, 79 Highland Avenue
- City Hall Concourse, 93 Highland Avenue
- Cummings School, 42 Prescott Street
- East Somerville Community School, 115 Pearl St
- Healey School, 5 Meacham St
- Kennedy School, 5 Cherry Street
- Kiley Barrel Municipal Lot, Union Square
- Veterans' Memorial Skating Rink, 581 Somerville Ave.
- West Branch Library, 40 College Ave
- West Somerville Neighborhood School, 177 Powderhouse Blvd
- Winter Hill Community School, 115 Sycamore St.
- All metered municipal parking lots
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