From: "Tomeu, Ini" <itomeu@cambridgema.gov> Date: Monday, February 16, 2015 at 8:32 PM To: "Tomeu, Ini" <itomeu@cambridgema.gov> Subject: Cambridge Snow Operations & City Services Update February 16, 2015 Hi please see attached or below City of Cambridge Snow Operations Update: Ini Tomeu, Public Information Officer City of Cambridge 795 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02139 617-349-4339/ itomeu@cambridgema.gov <mailto:itomeu@cambridgema.gov> For Immediate Release: Cambridge Snow Operations & City Services Update February 16, 2015 Cambridge, MA ­ Feb. 16, 2015 ­ A Cambridge Snow Emergency Parking Ban remains in effect until further notice. City offices and programs will be open on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Rubbish and recycling will be one day behind schedule for the week due to President¹s Day holiday. In light of the nearly 90 inches of snow that Cambridge has received over the past three weeks, the City is taking extraordinary measures in order to maintain emergency vehicle access to all roadways. This includes: * Removal and hauling operations to widen main arteries, secondary streets and dead-ends prioritized by public safety officials; * Converting certain two-way streets to temporary one-way streets; and * Maintaining the snow emergency parking ban until further notice. 1) Removal and Hauling Operations Crews resume snow removal and hauling operations throughout Cambridge Monday, Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. The City expects to have over 100 pieces of equipment on the road at this time. In addition to prioritized main arteries, crews will be addressing secondary streets and dead-ends as identified by public safety officials. What does this operation involve? A team of operators will use bobcats, loaders, and dump trucks to remove piles of snow, most particularly on corners and on dead-ends. Not all snow on a street will be removed, but clearing will be done to ensure emergency vehicle access. Removal and hauling is primarily an overnight operation due to traffic challenges during daytime hours, though certain locations may be done during the day if feasible. This work is expected to take numerous evenings to complete, and may continue into next week. How are streets selected for this operation? Streets are selected for removal based on consensus by Public Works, Police, Fire, Emergency Communications, and Traffic & Parking that widening the street is critical for maintaining emergency access, and that standard plowing and salting operations is insufficient to achieve that access. The purpose of these operations is to ensure emergency vehicle access. Given the huge volume of snow, the City is unable to provide removal and hauling at all streets. 2) Converting certain two-way streets to temporary one-way streets Public safety officials are evaluating certain two way streets that have been narrowed due to snow, and will be converting some of these to temporary one-way streets. The City expects to begin this program in East Cambridge in the next several days, and potentially expand to other streets as feasible. Additional details about program will be posted once finalized. 3) Maintaining the snow emergency parking ban until further notice. A citywide parking ban began at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14 and will remain in effect until public safety officials determine it is safe to lift the ban. We thank residents for their cooperation in helping us to keep roadways clear. We also thank local garages that have partnered with us to offer residents parking during these repeated snow emergencies. Please note that Green St Garage, First St. Garage and the 50 Oxford St. Garage are currently full. Please see alert at www.cambridgema.gov <http://www.cambridgema.gov> for more information about available parking. Public Safety Is Our Top Priority Despite the challenging weather conditions we face, the City has devoted the personnel and resources necessary to maintain public safety. We will continue snow clearing efforts into the coming week and beyond. For more information about the City¹s overall approach to snow operations, and the response to the Presidents¹ Day Weekend Blizzard, see alert at www.cambridgema.gov <http://www.cambridgema.gov> . -###-