·        All cars must be moved from City lots by 2 p.m. to avoid ticketing and towing

·        Property owners must clear sidewalks within 6 daylight hours of end of snowfall

The City of Somerville’s snow emergency will end Sunday, January 20, at 12 noon 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 in the forecasted frigid temperatures.

CARS IN LOTS: Beginning at noon, vehicles parked in any city lot will have two hours to move out of the lot. Vehicles not moved from lots by 2 p.m. Sunday may be ticketed and towed so that City crews can safely plow. Once school lots are cleared, residents may park in them during non-school hours, and must exit by 7 a.m. Tuesday. Residents may also resume parking in City and metered lots after they have been cleared. Meters are not in effect on Sundays or on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.

PERMIT VISIBILITY & SNOW REMOVAL FROM VEHICLES: Once the snow emergency has been lifted, parking permit stickers must be visible within 24 hours (by noon Monday), and cars must be cleared and shoveled out within 48 hours (by noon Tuesday).

SIDEWALK SHOVELING: Property owners are also reminded that sidewalks not shoveled by within six hours of the end of snowfall are subject to ticketing each day until the sidewalk is clear. Sidewalks must be cleared to a 3-foot-wide path down to the pavement to allow wheelchair passage, and snow may not be shoveled into the street. A flash freeze is forecasted for this storm. We urge property owners to clear sidewalks as soon as possible to prevent icy conditions. Be sure to bundle up and shovel in short spurts. Review cold weather safety tips at www.somervillema.gov/coldweather.

If you are a senior or are otherwise physically unable to shovel, please call the Council on Aging by calling 311 during normal business hours to sign up in advance for assistance during the NEXT storm. For assistance immediately, the independent website www.snowcrew.org may be able to match you with a volunteer.

HOW TO HELP: Please consider assisting neighbors who may need help with shoveling and consider checking in on elderly neighbors or others who may need additional assistance. If you are able, our firefighters also greatly appreciate any assistance in shoveling hydrants and catch basins in your area.

CANCELATIONS & CLOSINGS: 

All city and school activities are canceled Sunday and the libraries and the skating rink are closed. The Martin Luther King Jr. Event planned for Monday, January 21, has been postponed to Monday, January 28, at 6 p.m. at the East Somerville Community School Auditorium.

TRASH PICKUP DELAYED BY ONE DAY THIS WEEK

Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday on Monday, trash pickup will be delayed by one day for the full week.

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. If you have a non-emergency question, please call 311 (or 617-666-3311 from outside the city).