Cambridge and Somerville weathered, seemingly without major disruptions, one of the largest storms ever to hit the Boston area. Now it has to adjust to life navigating igloo-sized mounds of snow.
More than foot and a half of snow fell locally between Sunday and Monday, ranging from 18 inches of snow in Somerville to just under two feet at Boston’s Logan Airport. The snowfall clocked in as the 8th largest to hit the metro area in recorded history.
The storm was part of a massive weather pattern that stretched from New Mexico to Maine and affected approximately 200 million people, claiming dozens of lives nationally. According to CBS News, 41 people have died directly due to storm conditions, with another 20 deaths reported that seem to be weather related. Cambridge and Somerville appear to have averted fatalities from the storm. Nor were major power outages reported.
The most significant public safety event appeared to be a fire that the Cambridge Fire Department responded to Monday morning. The fire broke out shortly after 7 a.m. at 1137 Massachusetts Ave., a 5-story building with approximately 35 units. City spokesperson Jeremy Warnick said in an email that all residents were evacuated safely and had found temporary housing. He said the city’s housing liaison “will be following up with each resident/family in the coming days to ensure they have the necessary longer-term supports.”
Cambridge and Somerville schools both declared snow days for Monday and Tuesday, creating challenges for families who had to navigate childcare and working remotely. Many local businesses temporarily closed or had reduced hours, and anecdotal reports found empty shelves in local grocery and hardware stores.
Cambridge Public Library branches were also closed on Sunday and Monday, but reopened Tuesday, while in Somerville at least one branch was open to provide community warming areas on Sunday and Monday.
There were no days off for area’s public works employees. Warnick said Cambridge is working to clear roughly 30 miles of sidewalks and by Wednesday afternoon had cleared between 70 and 80 percent of them. He said that the city expects to have all of them cleared by the end of Thursday. Cambridge is also hauling snow to clear more space, and that work through at least Friday, and possibly longer depending on a potential storm this coming weekend.
Cambridge DPW deployed its 75 to 80 pieces of snow clearing equipment and contracted another 100 for its operation, including five-foot plows to clear walkways and bike lanes. Bikers have already been seen returning to the streets despite the conditions. “When [the lanes are] clear, if they’re dry, I’ll definitely bike,” said Chris Cassa, longtime volunteer at Cambridge Bike Safety. He expressed appreciation for city workers clearing the way for not just drivers, but bikers too. “They’re working consistently through the night. We’re so grateful they’re putting in the work to do it.”
The snow presented a challenge for local nonprofits and city services to help vulnerable populations. Winter warming centers in Cambridge and Somerville operated at expanded capacity during the storm. The city of Cambridge said nearly 20 individuals each night were connected to shelters over the weekend. While the Cambridge libraries were closed, Somerville libraries remained open for residents to keep warm during the day. The Cambridge Salvation Army also kept its day shelter open at expanded capacity.
The spring semester began amidst the snowfall on Monday for Harvard and Lesley Universities, with at least some classes being held virtually. MIT’s spring semester does not begin until February 2nd.
Material from previous Cambridge Day stories was included in this update.
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Sidewalks in many places are not cleared from my encounters with them, and certainly not to the definition examples the city has given for cleared, the same with crosswalk intersections.
Some Stores/Property managers only did partial clearing, the property containing the Walgreens and Whole Foods on the River Street is only partially cleared.
Large Swaths of Western Ave have signs put in by the city with ‘No Parking Until Further Notice’ on them in the snow banks so the parking ban still continues in areas of the city as of Thursday 11AM.
The City needs to increase the fines for commercial property and non-owner occupied properties that ignore the laws and ordinances or who only do a half hearted job. There are folks on canes, using mobility scooters and wheel chairs and who are transporting infants who cannot use the sidewalks.
We should all remind ourselves that parking space savers are an abuse of public property.
Many people who use space savers also complain about losing parking spots to development or bike lanes. But if you use a space saver to hold a spot while you’re at work or out, you’re removing a parking spot yourself.
So the next time you complain about parking losses, remember that you’re part of the problem when it suits you.
And don’t claim that losing parking hurts families, seniors, or people with disabilities if you’re willing to block them from parking with your space saver.
I agree the city is not doing enough to keep sidewalks and crosswalks clear. The priority seems to be streets only. I watched a mother with a stroller struggle to cross at an unshoveled crosswalk.
Increase fines for failing to shovel, and please, Cambridge, clear the snow from crosswalks.
And I agree that space savers are unneighborly.
Frank, above, is right. Space Savers is not acceptable behavior by those who have vehicles, and it also impacts the ability for deliveries to be made of food, medicine etc. to residents, and thus also impacts the elderly, mobility challenged, etc.
An Update to my post above (since we’re several days past that before it was cleared by the moderators) the no parking signs are now gone on Western Ave for the most part, but the snow isn’t improved for much of the street.
There has been some improvement at the property where the Walgreens and Whole Foods is on River street.