Property owners must shovel sidewalks by 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 

Mayor Ballantyne ordered halt to ticketing, ordered no towing, waives tickets due to radical shift in forecast

The City of Somerville’s snow emergency will end today, Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 10 a.m, and normal parking rules will resume at that time. The information below offers tips to avoid ticketing and towing as well as strategies for being a good neighbor and staying safe. 

Due to the significant turn-around in the forecast, Mayor Ballantyne halted snow emergency ticketing late Monday night, ordered that no cars be towed for the emergency, and she waived all snow emergency tickets issued on Monday. Please note, snow parking rules protect public safety by allowing safe passage for plows and emergency vehicles; residents should not count on parking ticket waivers for future storms. Tickets issued for other non-emergency violations on Monday will stand.

CARS IN LOTS: Residents parked in municipal lots during the snow emergency have a two-hour window to move their vehicles after the end of a snow emergency. Cars still parked in municipal lots after 12 noon on Tuesday, Feb. 13, will be subject to ticketing and towing.

PERMIT VISIBILITY: Please note that by 12 noon, Wednesday, Feb. 14 (24 hours after the end of the snow emergency), residential or visitor parking permits must be cleared of snow and visible or the vehicle may be ticketed. 

SNOW REMOVAL FROM VEHICLES: Please note that by 12 noon, Thursday, Feb. 15 (48 hours after the end of the emergency), your vehicle must be fully cleared of snow to avoid ticketing.

SIDEWALK SHOVELING: To allow safe passage for all and to avoid being ticketed, property owners must clear snow from their sidewalks by 1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 14 (within 6 daylight hours of the end of snowfall). A path down to the pavement and at least 36-inches wide is required to allow wheelchair passage. Do not shovel into the street or bike lanes. Please remember to also treat your walks in the coming days for ice that can form overnight as meltwater refreezes. Be sure to stay warm and take frequent breaks while shoveling. Review cold weather safety tips at www.somervillema.gov/coldweather. 

SHOVELING ASSISTANCE: If you are a senior or are otherwise physically unable to shovel, please call the Council on Aging at 617-625-6600 x2300 during normal business hours to sign up in advance for assistance during the NEXT storm. 

BIKE TRAVEL: Crews always work to remove snow from bike lanes. Shovelers, do not shovel snow into the road or bike lanes. Cyclists, please wait for lanes to be cleared, use caution when riding a bike post-storm, and consider using other modes of transportation if you must travel until pavement is fully clear of snow and ice. 

HOW TO HELP: Check on Neighbors, Shovel Hydrants, Use Your Driveway, Park Considerately   Please consider assisting neighbors who may need help with shoveling and consider checking in on elderly neighbors or others who may need additional assistance. Our crews are also working to shovel out fire hydrants and catch basins. If you are able, we greatly appreciate any assistance in shoveling hydrants and catch basins in your area. Finally, parking is often tight following a storm. If you have a driveway, please use it, and if you park on the street, try to maximize room for others.

OPEN, CLOSED, DELAYED:

• Closed/Canceled Tuesday, Feb. 13:
  • All Somerville Public Schools and school offices closed  
  • All school activities canceled
  • All Somerville Public Library branches closed
  • Tuesday trash and Christmas tree pickup will be delayed until Wednesday, and trash pickup will remain on a one-day delay for the rest of the week
  • Recreation Department activities canceled
  • Kennedy pool closed
  • All in-person City meetings and activities canceled
  • All City Buildings closed

• Open Wednesday, Feb. 14
  • Everything open per usual
  • Trash pickup will remain on a one-day delay for the rest of the week

HOW TO RETRIEVE YOUR CAR IF TOWED: Call the tow company, Stephen’s Automotive, at 781-395-0808 if your car was towed. Cars are towed to the Dilboy Stadium parking lot in Somerville on Route 16 (110 Alewife Brook Parkway).

THANK YOU & MORE INFO: We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this storm. For more information on post-snow policies, please visit www.somervillema.gov/snow. 

For more information or to make a non-emergency service request, please dial 311 (627-666-3311) or visit the City’s website, www.somervillema.gov. 311 may also be contacted via fb.com/311Somerville, @311somerville, and the 311 app for iOS or Android.