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Friday, March 29, 2024

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012815i clearing the streets of snowThe Department of Public Works will be clearing snow well into the weekend, even as Cambridge Public Schools and city offices prepare to reopen Thursday, city officials said in an email Wednesday evening.

“While the citywide snow emergency parking ban was lifted at 4 p.m. today, there are still many streets that will be marked with temporary ‘No Parking’ signs,” said Ini Tomeu, the city’s public information officer, noting that because of the snowfall from Monday and Tuesday, “there are many streets that – while passable to motor vehicle traffic – would be impassable to emergency vehicles and MBTA buses if parking were restored at this point.”

National Weather Service estimates showed 22.3 inches of snow in Somerville as of 3:08 a.m. Wednesday and 19 in Arlington, while Boston is estimated to have received 26 inches of snow.

The Department of Public Works will keep monitoring the need for no-parking signs and take them down as soon it is safe, but “residents and visitors are encouraged to check posted signs regularly to avoid being ticketed and towed,” Tomeu said, warning:

Regardless of whether a street has a parking restriction in place, any vehicle parked so far from the curb as to obstruct the safe flow of traffic is subject to ticketing and towing. Drivers should use their best judgment when considering whether to park in areas where large snow piles are still alongside the curb, to ensure they do not block the flow of traffic.

The city begins snow clearing and removal along high-volume bus routes this evening, she said, accounting for about 200 bus stops, or nearly two-third of the total in the city.

“Crews can work quickly and efficiently during nighttime hours, as pedestrian, cyclist, and motor vehicle traffic are extremely low,” she said. “This work requires the use of heavy equipment, and will take several nights to complete. Crews appreciate the public’s patience as the city works to ensure safe, accessible travel for all users.”

Residents with questions about snow removal operations can call Public Works at (617) 349-4800. Inquiries about traffic and parking can be addressed by calling the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department at (617) 349-4700.

This post took significant amounts of material from a press release.