Public Hearing: Snow Removal Program To Assist Sidewalk Clearing

Boston MA

15 March, 2021

6:02 PM

Description

BOSTON, MA — On Dec. 17, 2020, 13 inches of snow fell in Boston and the Boston City Council, the mayor's office and 311 fielded "countless calls, messages, and emails" from residents who said they couldn't safely commute home due to the amount of snow on sidewalks. The city is responsible for clearing roadways, but residents and business owners are responsible for clearing their own sidewalks—the result is walkways that are often either totally covered or not sufficiently cleared, making it difficult or dangerous to walk on them. In response, the City Council is proposing a supplemental sidewalk clearing program to help with snow removal on days when the accumulation is high. The Council is hosting a public hearing Tuesday at 10 a.m. to get residents' thoughts on the plan, which is inspired by similar programs in Rochester and the City of St. John's. The resolution says that lack of snow removal is most challenging for elderly people, people with disabilities, parents with strollers, and anyone who isn't using a car for travel and needs to walk to buses and trains. "The prioritization of road access over pedestrian access in the wake of a snow storm does not reflect the needs of the many Bostonians who do not own vehicles or routinely travel by car," the resolution says. To submit a comment ahead of time, access the Zoom link, or contact the sponsoring councilors, visit the city's website.