Blizzard Watch

 ALERTS

  • The City will begin snow clearing and removal along high volume bus routes on Thursday evening.

  • Residents and visitors are encouraged to check posted signs regularly in order avoid being ticketed and towed, as there are still many streets that will be marked with temporary “No Parking” signs.

UPDATES ON CITY OPERATIONS

 

Update: The Department of Public Works (DPW) will be continuing snow operations well into the weekend.

While the citywide Snow Emergency Parking Ban was lifted at 4 pm today, there are still many streets that will be marked with temporary “No Parking” signs. Because of the total accumulations received during the blizzard, there are still many streets that—while passable to motor vehicle traffic—would be impassable to emergency vehicles and MBTA buses if parking were restored at this point. Residents and visitors are encouraged to check posted signs regularly in order avoid being ticketed and towed. The City will continue to monitor the need for these signs, and will take them down as soon it is safe to do so.

Regardless of whether a street has a parking restriction in place, any vehicle parked so far from the curb as to obstruct the safe flow of traffic is subject to ticketing and towing. Drivers should use their best judgment when considering whether to park in areas where large snow piles are still alongside the curb, to ensure they do not block the flow of traffic.

The City will begin snow clearing and removal along high volume bus routes on Thursday evening. These routes include approximately 200 MBTA bus stops, nearly 2/3 of the total in the city. All bus stops, crosswalks, and ramps along these routes will be cleared of snow and ice. Crews can work quickly and efficiently during nighttime hours as pedestrian, cyclist, and motor vehicle traffic are extremely low.

This work requires the use of heavy equipment, and will take several nights to complete. Crews appreciate the public’s patience as the City works to ensure safe, accessible travel for all users.

Nighttime clearing routes for bus stops, crosswalks, and ramps include:
• Cambridge Street- Lechmere station to the Cambridge Common
• Massachusetts Avenue - Memorial Drive to the Arlington Line
• Concord Avenue - Cambridge Common to Fresh Pond Parkway
• Mt. Auburn Street - Belmont line to Massachusetts Ave Western Avenue
• River Street
• Huron Avenue – Concord Avenue to Fresh Pond Parkway
• Rindge Avenue
• Broadway
• Prospect Street- Cambridge Street to Massachusetts Avenue
• Pearl Street
• Brookline Street
• Green Street- Brookline Street to Western Avenue
• Granite Street
• Aberdeen Avenue

Residents with questions about snow removal operations can contact the Department of Public Works at 617-349-4800. Inquiries regarding traffic and parking can be addressed by calling the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department at 617-349-4700. 


 

Press Releases 

City of Cambridge Prepares for Blizzard - 1/26/15 2:30 pm 

City of Cambridge Establishes EOC and Emergency Shelter - 1/26/15 10:30 pm

City of Cambridge Emergency Operations Center Monitoring City's Response - 1/27/15 2:00 pm

City of Cambridge Announces Service Impacts for Wednesday, January 28 - 1/27/15 6:00 pm

Department of Public Works Issues Snow Operations Update - 1/28/15 5:30 pm

General Storm Information

 

Updates:
Updates will be posted on this website, City social media sites, CityView Ch. 22, and also on the Traffic Dept. main line, 671-349-4700.  

Emergency Notifications:
Sign-up to receive notification of snow emergency parking bans at http://www.cambridgema.gov/AlertNetwork.

School Closings: Call 617-349-6513 or visit www.cpsd.us.

Hubway Bike Share System Updates: Call 1-855-448-2929 or Visit https://thehubway.com/news

Safety Tips from Cambridge Fire Dept:

 

  • Help keep your family and neighbors safe by assisting in clearing snow from hydrants.
  • Parking is restricted at all times within 20 feet of an intersection; this is especially important during snow conditions.
  • Be aware that Fire, Rescue and EMS vehicles are larger than passenger cars. Leave adequate room for passage of Emergency vehicles on all right of ways.
  • Structures with direct vent boilers have exhaust and air intakes that need to be clear of snow to
    prevent possible carbon monoxide issues.

 

When Will Ban be Lifted? 
Once determined, ban lifted information will be sent to CodeRed subscribers, posted on the City of Cambridge Website, www.cambridgema.gov and on 22-CityView, and will be available via a recorded message during non-business hours and live assistance during business hours at the Traffic Department number, 617-349-4700.

Plowing Operations after the Storm: 
The Department of Public Works (DPW) will clear streets as soon as possible after a snow storm, starting with major arteries. Your patience and participation help the City return streets and sidewalks to safe, passable conditions as quickly as possible.

Property Owners Must Clear Ice and Snow from their Sidewalks:
City Ordinance requires property owners to remove snow from sidewalks next to their property or business within 12 hours of daytime snowfall and before 1 p.m. when it has fallen overnight. Property owners must also remove or melt all ice within 6 hours of the time it forms. There is a $50 fine for each day of non-compliance. If you are away, it is still your responsibility to ensure that someone clears sidewalks next to your property.

Remember to:

 

  • Shovel your sidewalk on all sides of your property, down to bare pavement
  • Clear snow to curb to avoid placing trash and recycling containers behind snow banks
  • Make path at least 3-4 feet wide (to enable wheelchair and/or stroller to pass through)
  • Clear ramps at corners and crosswalks
  • Clear snow off fire hydrants if the Fire Dept. hasn't already done so
  • Clear snow to curb so that collection crews can access your trash barrels and recycling toters and they are not behind snow banks.
  • Chop or melt all ice
  • Keep street drains clear of snow
  • Consider helping neighbors who may have difficulty clearing their walk.

 

Residents may not use objects such as trash/recycling barrels, furniture items or any other item to save parking spots on public streets. These items will be treated as trash and disposed of by DPW.

REPORT UNSAFE SIDEWALKS
Report it online at www.cambridgema.gov/snow or call the DPW Snow Hotline at 617-349-4903. You can also download Cambridge iReport app to you smartphone from www.cambridgema.gov/apps.

Snow Exemption Program
Disabled or elderly persons who qualify as low-income residents may be eligible for an exemption. Call the Cambridge Council on Aging, 617-349-6220 (voice) or 617-349-6050 (TTY) to learn more.

For more information, or to report an unshoveled or icy sidewalk, call 617-349-4903; use Cambridge iReport app on your smartphone or visit www.cambridgema.gov/snow.