WINTER STORM ADVISORY: City encourages use of public transportation

CITY OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Office of the Mayor

Thomas M. Menino

For Immediate Release:                                                        For More Information Contact:

Tuesday, December 17, 2013                                                 Press Office, 617-635-4461

**WINTER STORM ADVISORY**

Heaviest Snowfall during Evening Commute

City encourages use of public transportation

Mayor Menino is urging residents and commuters to travel cautiously this afternoon as the City prepares for 4-8 inches of snow.  The National weather service is predicting the heaviest snowfall to happen between 4-10 p.m.. The City of Boston will have nearly 400 pieces of equipment on the streets during this time and travel will be slow.   The city encourages all to use public transportation for your evening commute or consider staying through the evening commute to allow for our public works crews to do their work clearing the roadways.  The fewer cars on the road, the better.

Boston Public Schools has cancelled all after-school activities today. 

The Mayor's Snow Team convened this afternoon to discuss the latest snow-related information.  Special attention will be paid to high traffic intersections, hills, and around schools. If you drove to work today, Mayor Menino urges you to please consider taking public transportation home tonight. The fewer cars on the road, the better.

City Public Safety agencies and the Mayor's 24-Hour Hotline are staffing additional units to assist with the afternoon commute. Boston Police will have officers stationed at major intersections, and the Boston Transportation Department will rigorously enforce no-parking and double-parking rules, to keep streets as open as possible during the storm.

Residents and business owners are also reminded to salt and shovel their sidewalks. The Boston Public Health Commission and area hospitals are reporting a sharp increase in the number of people hospitalized after falling on the slippery sidewalks. Code enforcement officers will be out in force and will issue fines to any resident or business owner who fails to properly care for their sidewalks, as it is a major public safety issue.

Mayor Menino reminds residents of the following:     

·         Use public transportation when possible and avoid driving vehicles on slippery roads to keep roadways clear for plowing equipment and emergency vehicles.

·         Property owners are reminded to salt and sand sidewalks, stairs and pedestrian ramps to prevent slippery surfaces.

·         Residents are encouraged to shovel out hydrants and catch basins near or abutting their property to assist our public safety agencies and protect against flooding

·         Please check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors who may need help.

·         Use caution when walking near buildings that may have falling snow or ice

·         Parking rules are strictly enforced during snow storms.  Do not block driveways, crosswalks or ramps, and do not park within 20 feet of an intersection

·         Boston Public Works crews are prepared for the snow event, and will be pre-treating roads and readying snow removal equipment across the city's district yards.

·         Make sure tailpipes and house vents are clear of snow to prevent Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

Residents with weather-related questions or concerns should call the Mayor's 24-Hour Hotline at 617-635-4500.

            Residents are also encouraged to use the City's "Know Snow" program for access to other important storm-related information.  To receive notifications, register for the city's Alert Boston network at http://www.cityofboston.gov/snow/.  If you would like to receive updates on the storm on Twitter you can follow us: @NotifyBoston.

    

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