From the City Hall Press Office at 5:36 PM 1/20/2011

Mayor calls for parking ban to clear major arteries and roadways before deep freeze and more snow forecasted for early next week

With a forecast expected to dump heavy snow during tomorrow morning’s commute Mayor Thomas M. Menino has announced that a Snow Emergency and parking ban for the City of Boston will go into effect tonight at 9 PM and Boston Public Schools will be cancelled on Friday, January 21^st. 

According to the National Weather Service, the City of Boston and surrounding areas could receive between 5 to 10 inches of snow at an average of two inches per hour between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM. The City of Boston is expecting a significant drop in temperatures immediately following the snow fall as well as additional snow early next week and must clear roadways to provide wider access on all streets throughout next week.

Mayor Menino has directed all City of Boston employees to take their time coming into work tomorrow morning and has asked businesses to do the same as the heaviest snowfall is expected during the morning commute. The Mayor reminds people that if they must travel into the city to take public transportation. 

In preparation for the storm, the City has over 500 pieces of snow removal equipment at the ready and nearly 25,000 tons of salt at depots across the city. Given the expected dramatic decrease in temperatures the City’s emergency homeless shelters will be open throughout the day and evening to insure everyone has a place to stay during the storm and teams of outreach workers will comb the city looking to bring homeless individuals in from the cold.

The Mayor has also activated the City of Boston Storm Center to provide information and service to Boston residents for all storm-related issues. Residents with storm-related questions or concerns including a lack of heat in their residence should call the Mayor’s 24-Hour Hotline at (617) 635-4500 which will have extra staff on hand to field any possible increase in calls due to the storm. 

Mayor Menino reminds residents of the following:      

• During a Snow Emergency, parking is prohibited on all major arteries in Boston. These streets are posted with “Tow Zone No Parking During Snow Emergency” signs.
• A listing of major arteries and alternate parking can be found athttp://www.cityofboston.gov/snow/parking/.
• On streets other than major arteries, do not park within 20 feet of an intersection or further than one foot from the curb, as this impedes access for both emergency vehicles and snow plows. 
• Residents are also reminded to protect exposed pipes to prevent rupturing.
• Older residents or those with health conditions should refrain from shoveling this heavy wet snow.
• Do not throw snow back into the street. “Throwbacks” force the city to remove snow from the same street twice.
• Property owners are reminded to shovel snow from sidewalks that abut their homes and businesses and any handicapped ramps close to your homes or business.
• Please check on elderly neighbors and others in need.

            During declared snow emergencies, discounted parking is available at several parking lots and garages to cars that display Boston resident parking stickers. Residents are encouraged to use the City’s “Know Snow” program to be notified when a snow emergency is declared and canceled as well for access to other important storm-related information.  To receive notifications, register for the city’s Alert Boston network athttp://www.cityofboston.gov/alertboston.  If you would like to receive updates on the storm on Twitter you can follow us: @NotifyBoston. 

            Boston Centers for Youth and Families will be open tomorrow, from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, for families with childcare needs for kids 6 years and older.  A list can be found at http://www.cityofboston.gov/bcyf/. 

For more information, please visit http://www.cityofboston.gov/snow/.