Cambridge will lift its snow emergency parking ban at 5 p.m., the city said in a midday statement Tuesday. Residents who have parked in one of the city’s off-street parking locations must exit them by 7 p.m. Tuesday night.
Parking restrictions will continue on narrow streets, which will be marked with signs saying No Parking. The city will include restricted parking streets on its Cambridge Snow Center site.
Property owners were reminded to clear snow and ice from at least a 36″-wide pathway from sidewalks next to their property or business. The city will issue a $50 fine for each day of non-compliance.
Schools in both Cambridge and Somerville will remain closed for a second day, but Cambridge’s City Hall and public library branches will re-open Tuesday. Somerville posted an update Monday evening saying its snow emergency will be lifted at noon on Tuesday. Its city offices will remain closed for the day, however, and its libraries will be closed.
Cambridge officials released an update late Monday afternoon. It also said that the snow emergency parking ban will continue through Tuesday. The schools will reopen on Wednesday.
“Considering that it has been four years since we last had a significant storm such as this, many new residents have moved into the City, and a new tow company is working with the City, there have been challenges. However, a lot of incredible work is being done in very difficult conditions thanks to our dedicated staff and partners,” Jeremy Warnick, a spokesman for the city of Cambridge, said via email.
Snow removal had been slowed by cars that remained parked on streets with emergency parking bans. The city said in a statement that through Monday afternoon, “nearly 150 vehicles have been towed due to owners not moving their vehicles from “No Parking During Snow Emergency” locations.”
Cambridge Department of Public Works employees will spend a second night clearing streets, continuing to focus on major roadways. The DPW will begin hauling snow Tuesday evening, to create room for more clearing on those roadways and on transit routes.
While the schools will be closed, the Department of Human Services will open its preschool and afterschool programs at 10 a.m. Tuesday and will operate them through the end of the day. The Moses Youth Center will be open to teenagers from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Other Youth Centers will open starting at 10 a.m. for pre-teen / middle school afterschool programs and at 6:30 p.m. for teen programming.
The city encouraged property owners to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks. Residents should use SeeClickFix to report sidewalks that need to be cleared.
The city also said nearly 20 individuals each night were connected to shelters over the weekend. Shelters and service centers will continue to have expanded capacity through the weekend, including the City’s Winter Warming Center in the basement of the Cambridge Senior Center and the CASPAR Emergency Services Center. The First Step Street Outreach Team will be transporting people who need shelter and bringing resources to those who wish to stay outside between 2 p.m. and midnight on Monday. The First Step team can be reached at 617-592-6895.
Somerville updates
Somerville’s statement reminded residents not to move their cars to even-numbered side of the street before noon on Tuesday or they could be ticketed and towed. It also noted that resident and visitor parking permits must be visible by noon on Wednesday, Jan. 28 or tickets could be issued.
Sidewalks must be cleared of snow and ice by 1 p.m. Tuesday.
It also noted that crews are continuing to clear bike lanes and the Somerville Community Path.
The city is also working to open either the Central or West library branches on Tuesday.
But all athletic events, recreation programs, Council on Aging sites and senior transit are canceled on Tuesday.
This story was updated Jan. 27 to note the end of the snow emergency parking ban in Cambridge.
This story has been updated to include new information about Somerville’s snow emergency and to update a comment from a Cambridge city spokesperson.
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