BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BE OPEN ON WEDNESDAY, PARKING BAN WILL LIFT AT 5PM ON WEDNESDAY

BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BE OPEN ON WEDNESDAY, PARKING BAN WILL LIFT AT 5PM ON WEDNESDAY

BOSTON – Tuesday, February 10, 2015 – Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that Boston Public Schools will be open tomorrow, Wednesday, February 11. The emergency snow parking ban that is currently in place will remain in effect until 5 p.m. tomorrow evening.

“I want to thank everyone who is staying off the road today, and the employers who allowed staff to work from home. It gave our public works crews some time to clean the streets, and snow removal operations will be active tonight,” said Mayor Walsh. “Boston has seen record snowfall in the last two weeks. The City of Boston needs your help to shovel walkways and hydrants. This storm clean up needs to be a team effort, especially as more snow is predicted at the end of this week.”

During this most recent storm Boston received 23 inches of snow. All total approximately six feet of snow has fallen in the City of Boston since the blizzard two weeks ago, and this has been the snowiest month-long period on record.

Schools

Boston Public Schools will be open on Wednesday, February 11. Boston Public Schools have been closed 8 days this winter due to the weather. Missed school days will be made up on Evacuation Day, March 17, and Bunker Hill Day, June 17.

Costs

The estimated total cost of the snow response to the three storms in the last two weeks is estimated at $30 million. This year’s annual budget for snow removal is $18.5 million, based on a 5 year average cost. The City of Boston will continue to actively monitor costs, with the priority placed on public safety and snow removal management.

Public Works

The Public Works Department (PWD) has over 600 pieces of equipment on roadways today, plowing and widening with the priority focused on main arterials. Approximately 100 loads of snow were removed from city streets during the recent snow event, and snow removal will expand today and overnight as snow recovery begins following the storm. Since the blizzard two weeks ago PWD has hauled nearly 200,000 cubic yards off of the street, and melted 120,000 cubic yards.

Melting continues at the City’s snow farms located at Tide St and Reservation Road in Hyde Park. The Tide St site has been melted to 50% capacity, and the Reservation Road site is at 10% capacity. PWD estimates there is enough space in these two snow farms to haul snow from the neighborhoods to both snow farms for the next four to five nights.

You can track the PWD response to the snowstorm in your neighborhood using the recently launched Boston Snow Stats platform, available online here: http://snowstats.boston.gov/

Safety Tips

• Please help your neighbors and do your part to assist during this snow event by clearing sidewalks and shoveling out hydrants.
• Have a contractor check the roof to see if snow needs to be removed. If roof snow can be removed from the ground with the use of a snow rake, do so with caution. Avoid working from ladders and be mindful of slippery surfaces.
• Shoveling snow requires significant exertion, please be cautious and pay attention to symptoms. Stop if you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheaded, nauseous/vomiting. Call 911 if those symptoms do not resolve quickly when you stop exertion.
• Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a concern during winter weather, especially with the use of generators.Residents should be sure to use their home heating systems wisely and safety, and have a working carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home. Call 911 immediately if you suspect Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
• Sitting in a car while idling can be deadly if the tailpipe is blocked. Do not let children sit in an idling car while shoveling. Clear any household exhaust pipes of snow. For example, gas exhaust from heating system or dryer.
• Remember to keep catch basins and fire hydrants clear.
• Snow piles can make navigating intersections dangerous for walkers and drivers, please take extra care when turning corners with snow piles that might limit visibility.
• If you see a person in need of shelter, or if there is an emergency, please call 911.
• Please check on neighbors, especially the elderly and disabled.
• If you are walking in the street, remove your headphones, so you can hear traffic.
• For those with questions or concerns, help is available through several channels. The Mayor’s Hot Line (617-635-4500) will be running with extra staff around the clock for the next two days and the City’s social media and mobile technology strategy will be in full effect throughout the storm. Residents can tweet @notifyboston with a question or concern, and use the Citizens Connect app to report issues.

Trash and Recycling

Regularly scheduled trash collection will take place on Wednesday. For additional trash updates visit the Public Works Department online: http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/

Parking

The snow emergency parking ban that is currently in place will remain in effect until 5 p.m. tomorrow evening. Residents have two hours to take their cars out of parking garages after the ban is lifted. The Boston Transportation Department has issued 1194 weather emergency related citations and towed 98 vehicles since Sunday, February 8.

Minimizing the number of vehicles parked on our streets allows snowplows to get to the curb and clear the snow. In addition, drivers are asked to park with safety in mind and refrain from parking in any manner that will jeopardize public safety, including, within 20 feet from an intersection, more than a foot from the curb, at handicap ramps, crosswalks and fire hydrants.

The City of Boston is opening its municipal parking lots to neighborhood residents for long-term parking during the storm. In addition, the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) has worked with private parking lot and garage owners in Boston to secure 15,500 free or discounted parking spaces for Boston Residents. Residents are asked to please remove vehicles from streets that are posted as "Snow Emergency" Arteries and park them in these alternate off-street locations.

Public Libraries

All Boston Public Libraries will be open on Wednesday, February 11.

Helping the Homeless

Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) will continue to coordinate their city-wide network of emergency shelters, outreach providers, city agencies and first responders to assist the homeless during this impending storm. Shelters are kept open during the day for the safety and well being of our clients. Beginning Monday, the site at Southampton Street will also offer daytime hours. Throughout the storm, BPHC will encourage our guests to remain indoors in our shelter network for their safety.

Working with the Pine Street Outreach Team and Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, BPHC actively seeks out individuals and helps them find shelter during a cold snap, providing food, clothing, blankets, medical assistance to those in need.

All individuals seeking shelter should go to Central Intake, located at Woods Mullen Shelter - 794 Massachusetts Avenue in the South End at the corner of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue.

Community Meetings and Hearings

All city-sponsored community meetings and hearings for Wednesday will be held.

City Workers

City Hall will open at 10am. All employees should report to work at 10am.

Bruins Game

The Bruins game is being held tonight at the TD Garden. However, all parking garages around the Garden are at limited capacity. The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) at 415 Summer St is providing free parking and free shuttle service for all fans from the BCEC to the TD Garden and fans are encouraged to go to the BCEC to park.