The City of Somerville has issued a new snow emergency brochure for the 2007-08 winter season, reminding residents of the appropriate procedures during declared snow emergencies in the city. Residents are also encouraged to call 311 to sign up for the city’s telephone and e-mail notification systems.

Residents can sign up for Connect CTY by calling the city’s 311 constituent service center, or by visiting the 311 website HERE. Additionally, the full snow brochure can be accessed by clicking on the link at the right side of this screen. Snow alerts are available by phone or by email, and can be received on work, cell, or home phones.

Snow emergency announcements will be also be available from the city’s information hotline (617-628-SNOW), telephone and e-mail distribution lists, city cable channels (15 & 16 on Comcast, 13 & 15 on RCN) and the city website, and will be provided to local television and radio stations . The Somerville Police Department will also make announcements via loudspeakers during street patrols. A snow emergency may be declared whenever four or more inches are predicted to fall.

As an additional notification measure this year, flashing blue lights have been installed at 22 key intersections at entryways to the City of Somerville. The lights, positioned atop traffic light posts, will be activated immediately after the declaration of a snow emergency, and remain lit for the duration of the snow emergency.

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. (If your street already has parking that is limited to one side of the street on a year-around basis, then that is the side that remains in use during a snow emergency.)
• 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 done first. 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 the above locations 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.

Residents who do not have access to off-street parking may use the following 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

The City will also continue to offer e-mail “snowalert” notifications; to sign up, please click “Sign Up for Snow E-mail Alerts” under QuickLinks on the city homepage, or call 311. Residents receiving Snow Alerts via e-mail in previous years do not need to re-register.