Mayor Walsh Declares Snow Emergency. Parking Ban Starts at 6PM

 MAYOR WALSH DECLARES SNOW EMERGENCY
PARKING BAN IN EFFECT TODAY AT 6 P.M.

Total snow accumulations may range between 9 to 13 inches, with the potential to up to 15 inches in some areas, and winds as high as 45 mph are expected. Residents are advised that a parking ban is in effect starting at 6:00 p.m., when vehicles parked on the street will start to be towed. The City is urging residents to abide by snow regulations and all commuters to utilize caution when traveling during the Thursday commutes. Dry weather paired with colder temperatures and wind chill are anticipated on Thursday and Friday following the storm. 

"Boston hasn't seen a sizable snowstorm since March of 2019 -- over 21 months ago. I am urging everyone to be ready and prepared," said Mayor Walsh. "I ask all our residents and workers to be alert and remain cautious on our roads and sidewalks. Our Public Works Department (PWD) will be working hard to pre-treat and clean our roads during this snowfall, and I thank them for their hard work. We are asking residents and businesses to do their part by staying safe, shoveling their sidewalks, walkways, catch basins, and fire hydrants, and looking out for one another as neighbors. The City of Boston will continue to share updates throughout the storm."

A snow emergency has been declared. A parking ban is in effect starting today, Wednesday, December 16 at 6:00 p.m. All vehicles parked on a posted snow emergency artery will be towed beginning at 6:00 p.m. today. 

Snow Emergency Artery / Parking Restricted: Fort Point & Seaport

A Street
Boston Wharf Rd
Congress Street
D Street
Northern Avenue
Seaport Blvd
Summer Street

Residents can find a complete list of city streets and discounted garages here and begin parking at participating garages starting at 4:00 p.m. today. 

Participating South Boston Garages

THE ALYX GARAGE
59 EAST SERVICE ROAD
$10.00 PER DAY-EACH NEW DAY STARTS AT 5AM. 
No restrictions, rate available to all parkers. 

CHANNEL CENTER GARAGE
116 WEST FIRST STREET
617-269-1830
$10 FOR EACH 24-HOUR PERIOD
Please bring a valid driver’s license with a City of Boston address to the garage office.

BPDA/EDIC GARAGE
12 DRYDOCK AVENUE
617-482-2487
$1 FOR EACH NIGHT
The discount is only for South Boston residents. You need to have a South Boston resident sticker on your vehicle.
The garage only allows snow emergency parking on the fourth floor.

MUNICIPAL LOT #018
450 WEST BROADWAY: NO CHARGE

MUNICIPAL LOT #021
650-652 EAST BROADWAY: NO CHARGE

• Trash and Recycling pick-up is cancelled citywide on Thursday, December 17. Neighborhoods with a Thursday and Friday pick-up schedule will be delayed by one day. Residents are encouraged to download the Trash Day App.  

• Starting at midnight, Street Sweeping is cancelled until further notice. 

• All Boston Public Schools (BPS) school buildings will be closed. All students, including students who were scheduled to report for in-person learning, will attend classes online for a partial day that will end 2.5 hours earlier than the regularly scheduled dismissal time. There will be no in-person learning on Thursday.   

• As indicated in signage posted in BPS school parking lots, parking is not allowed during snowstorms. Vehicles may be towed if they are parked in BPS parking lots this evening.

• All BPS meal distribution sites will be open today Wednesday, December 16 until 6:00 p.m. instead of Thursday, December 17. Other meal sites in the City will also be closed on Thursday, December 17. They will be open today to distribute extra meals. Residents are encouraged to check with their meal site for hours. 

• The City-sponsored mobile COVID-19 testing sites at Washington Park Mall and 1432 Hyde Park Avenue will be closed on Thursday. For other updates on testing site availability and closures, please check hours of operation here.  

Boston City Hall and all City departments will be closed on Thursday, December 17. Boston Public Library locations will be closed, including BPL To Go services. Residents with appointments scheduled on Thursday, December 17 will be contacted by City departments to reschedule. All Boston Centers for Youth & Families are closed and in person programming is cancelled.  

The Public Works Department will have equipment to pre-treat Boston's roads prior to the snowfall starting and has the ability to put over 600 pieces of equipment on City streets. The Public Works Department currently has 44,000 tons of salt on hand.

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is in constant contact with the National Weather Service to receive detailed forecasts for the City of Boston and ensure City departments have plans in place to handle the forecast. Residents can sign up to receive AlertBoston notifications by phone, text, or email. Residents can call 311 for non-emergency related issues. 

Rules on clearing snow:

• Property owners must fully clear snow, sleet and ice from sidewalks and curb ramps abutting the property within three hours after the snowfall ends or three hours after sunrise if the snow ends overnight. Curb and pedestrian ramps to the street should be cleared fully and continually over the duration of the storm to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities. If a storm will last over an extended period of time, property owners are asked to continually check ramps abutting their property for compliance. 

• Removal of snow, ice from a private property to the street or sidewalk is prohibited. 

• Failure to comply with the rules can result in fines issued by PWD's Code Enforcement Division. Fines associated with improper removal of snow can be found here. 

Caring for vulnerable populations:

• If you see homeless and vulnerable individuals out in the cold who appear immobile, disoriented or underdressed for the cold, please call 911.

• The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) coordinates a city-wide network of emergency shelters, outreach providers, city agencies and first responders to assist those in need of shelter.

• Boston's emergency shelters are open 24 hours and will accept any person in need. Men can access shelter at the 112 Southampton Street Shelter, and women should go to the Woods-Mullen Shelter at 794 Massachusetts Ave. BPHC and the City work closely with shelter providers in the city to ensure that no client is without shelter, food, resources, and a warm respite from the cold.

• The City brought over 200 beds for the winter spread throughout sites in Brighton, Mission Hill and downtown. Additionally, the City worked with the State to add additional capacity in locations surrounding and outside of Boston.

• The BPHC Engagement Center is open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In addition to providing an indoor heated space, it offers a range of basic amenities and comfort items, such as clean bathroom facilities, water, coffee, and light snacks.

• During extreme cold weather, street outreach teams operate with extended hours and provide mobile outreach vans on the streets in the evening and throughout the day.