From the mayor’s office:

With the historic snowfall that we’ve seen – the most in a seven day period since the National Weather Service began recording snowfall 143 years ago – residents have had many questions directed to the city through Facebook, Twitter and 311 about snow operations, parking rules, and more. With more than 60 inches of snow so far, the amount that has fallen presents unique challenges, and the city is aware of and concerned about the difficulties residents are facing.

Like every city in the area right now, the challenges are far greater than even close to normal.  Crews have been out in maximum force, with approximately 150 pieces of equipment deployed to plow, move, haul and melt snow. Customer services reps at 311 are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer questions and take reports. Communication Department members have been updating the city’s Facebook and Twitter page and answering questions 15 hours each day, and updating the City Cable channel and website with the most up-to-date information. Here are some questions that the city has received from residents:

What is the city’s snow budget?

The FY15 budget includes $936,000 for snow removal, $900,000 of which is specifically for snow removal operations and $36,000 for police details needed during those operations. That’s a 44 percent increase over what was budgeted in FY14, as the city ramps up its snow removal budget each year to more accurately reflect what it must spend on snow operations. In FY13 and FY14, city snow spending exceeded the planned budgets. Snow removal budgets are the only budget item allowed by state law to run a deficit. The city spent $1.49 million in FY13 on snow removal. In FY14, through May 1, the city spent $2.05 million on snow removal. This year, the city is also spending far more than the budgeted amount for snow removal and response to ensure all available resources are applied to this cleanup, so the $936,000 budget will not reflect the final investment in snow operations this year. Additional capital funds are also invested each year in new snow removal equipment. This year, we purchased our first giant snow blower (the snow chomper), which we are using to chop snow and blow it into dump trucks for hauling. The city plans to purchase more chompers for next year.

When snow is hauled away, where is it taken?

Current “snow farms” in Somerville include the former waste transfer station in Brickbottom, the former Chuckie Harris Park on East Cross Street, and under I-93 by Ten Hills. Starting this week, some snow is also being melted by the Snow Dragon, which feeds the melted water into the sewer.

What equipment resources are being dedicated to the snow response?

Using a combination of both City-owned equipment and contractor supplied equipment, the City has had up to 150 pieces of equipment out at any given time working on clearing and hauling. These include, plows, front-end loaders, bobcats, trackless vehicles for walkways, the jumbo snow blower (snow chomper) that blows into a dump truck for hauling, a snow melter (snow dragon), tractor trailers, tri-axle trucks, ten-wheelers, six-wheeled dumptrucks, small loaders, medium loaders, large loaders, bombardiers, holders, sanders/salters. Shoveling crews are also out in force with shovels, snowblowers, and power brooms. Total snow removal personnel deployed is roughly 200. Firefighters have been shoveling the city’s roughly 1,600 hydrants. MEMA has committed additional equipment and reinforcements and we are in discussions with the Governor for additional state support.

What’s the schedule for street clearing?

Crews are working around the clock to ensure safe passage on main roadways and public walkways, and at targeted side streets and neighborhood intersections where there are safety concerns first. Safe passage is determined in consultation with the fire department. Parking will open up on main roads first, and crews will then begin working on hauling and melting snow at neighborhood intersections and side streets. Because of the extraordinary amount of snow that has fallen in a short period of time, hauling — which is more time-consuming than plowing – is necessary to clear roads.

When will the parking ban lift?

The citywide snow emergency remains in effect, but parking bans are being lifted on a rolling basis for streets that are cleared. Those streets where the parking ban is lifted will be announced through

·        targeted CTY emails and texts,

·        on the City’s homepage and snow page at somervillema.gov and somervillema.gov/snow and multi-lingual pages,

·        through the City’s Facebook and Twitter and multi-lingual accounts,

·        and on the City Cable TV cable wheel.

·        All 311 operators are also available to provide this information for anyone who calls. To receive alerts signup at somervillema.gov/alerts.

In some cases it may appear that we have completed snow removal when we have not. Bus stops and handicap ramp crews may still be coming behind road clearing crews. Anyone who parks in a cleared area before the ban is officially lifted will be subject to ticketing and may be subject to towing, as this will greatly slow snow removal efforts. If residents are unsure of where they may park, they should check the sources above or please call 311.

Can I continue parking in a municipal/school lot or Assembly Row even though the parking ban is being lifted on a street-by-street basis? Can I park at meters?

For now, residents can continue parking in any of the designated off-street parking lots while the extended citywide parking ban remains in effect. Parking meters are not in effect during the citywide snow emergency, but if parking restrictions have not been lifted on the street, you still need to park on the odd side.

How do we signup for text alerts?

Go to somervillema.gov/alerts.

Will the City institute a switch between even- and odd-side-only parking?

The City is working on a plan for alternating the sides that have a parking ban during snow emergencies, most likely by season. It won’t happen this winter season, but those plans are in the works for coming winters and they will be developed with public input. Currently we are reviewing best practices by cities that already do this.

Could the City have an even-side parking day so that the odd-side could be plowed?

Because there are snowed-in cars and ice piles on the odd side, plowing on the odd side of the road is, for the most part, very challenging and unsafe at this point. The City has ticketed vehicles that are not properly shoveled out after 48 hours because some cars were becoming hard to see, which causes safety concerns for emergency vehicles and snow removal apparatus. On main roads, however, we have been using the snow chomper (which will not fit down most side streets) to clear odd sides as well.

How come sometimes the City declares a snow emergency and the School Department cancels school at different times?

Somerville Public Schools make their call to cancel school independently from the City. The City has to call a snow emergency early enough to start snow and road preparations, which usually begin well before snow begins. But most schools, in Somerville and elsewhere, wait as long as possible to be absolutely sure of the forecast. This is standard for most districts and prudent. Unless conditions require it for safety purposes, it is always safest to have kids in school where they are supervised.

Who is responsible for shoveling ramps where the crosswalks meet sidewalks?

Property owners are required to shovel all the way to the corner including the ramp unless they are near a bus stop. Near bus stops, the City does it.

Is trash and recycling still being picked up on the regular schedule?

Yes, trash and recycling pickup is on a regular schedule as weather and conditions allow. Crews are doing their best but still have some backlog to pick up, so if your bins are missed, please keep them out. If you have difficulty finding a place to put your bins and don’t have a cleared driveway to use please consider asking a neighbor with a cleared driveway if you could put them there. If that’s not an option, if possible try to carve out a small nook for your bins. Just try to avoid blocking the street, sidewalks or snow removal operations as best you can.

I am a senior or disabled person, or my family member is. How can I get assistance with shoveling?

The City has a shoveling assistance program. Teens who sign up will receive a payment for each house they shovel out. Interested youth need to sign up with the Office of Commissions and be available when there’s a snowstorm. Seniors and individuals with disabilities need to sign up through the Council on Aging and complete a CORI check (criminal record). Call the Council on Aging for shoveling assistance for senior citizens and persons with disabilities at 617-625-6600 (x2300). Youths interested in shoveling should call The Office of Somerville Commissions at 617-625-6600 (x2406). If you are not a high school student, you can still volunteer to help people shovel out.

Those in need of shoveling assistance or wanting to provide shoveling services can also check out www.helparoundtown.com, which the City partnered with for its Pocket Change program and includes a local online job board where both persons offering shoveling services for hire and those seeking paid shoveling services can post and find information. Finally, shoveling assistance and volunteering can be done through www.snowcrew.org (note that this is not a City-run site and the City is not responsible or liable for any actions arrange via the site or in connection with the site).

All shoveling assistance information is posted on the City website via the www.somervillema.gov/snow page.

Is space saving allowed in Somerville?

No. Section 12-18 of the City Code of Ordinances prohibits placing objects in the street to reserve parking spaces. Space saving is a safety concern as the objects are not always easily seen by drivers or snow removal teams, they impede and slow snow removal, and they reduce total parking availability. Objects used to save parking spaces may be collected and disposed of. Crews may first focus on snow removal before picking up illegal space savers, but space savers will be taken away by DPW. Space saving can be reported to 311.