It's that time of the year

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

Now that we're heading into winter, it's time to think about snow emergencies. For those of us in Somerville, a couple of things. I am posting in full behind the cut an email I got from the city. Last year I signed up for email notification of snow emergencies, and also have it SMd to my phone. I strongly suggest you do so as well. This email should clarify the policy and give you the info you need to get through the winter without having your car ticketed or towed.



In an effort to communicate more effectively with residents regarding
snow
emergencies, the City of Somerville has instituted an Emergency Snow
Alert
Email System. You have received this email as a reminder that you have
subscribed to this service.

We have included the City's Snow Emergency Policy below.

In the future, you will receive an email when a snow emergency has been
declared.

Any questions or concerns please contact
snowalert-admin@lists.somerville.ma.us.

Thank you for your continued cooperation.


<<...OLE_Obj...>>
City of Somerville, Massachusetts
Joseph A. Curtatone
Mayor


SNOW EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
WINTER 2004-2005

The city's snow emergency policy is designed to clear streets quickly
and
effectively during a storm and to guarantee open, passable streets
during
and after the storm. This is often a difficult task in a city as
densely
populated as Somerville. In the past, failure to enforce the policy
has led
to impassable streets and snowed-in parking lots, resulting in
inconvenienced residents, reduced commerce, and endangered public
safety.


To ensure effective snow removal and avoid such problems, the city has
adopted an aggressive policy toward making sure roadways are cleared in
advance of a storm so snow plows can do their work. Residents are
advised
to read the following procedures carefully.

DECLARATION OF A SNOW EMERGENCY

* A snow emergency will be declared when four or more inches
of snow are predicted.
* The emergency will be declared six hours before the storm is
predicted to begin.
* Residents have four hours after the snow declaration to move
their cars. Ticketing and towing will begin four hours after the
declaration. (More on ticketing and towing below.) (Towing before the
snow
actually hits the ground is necessary to ensure clear streets for the
plows.)
* It is strongly advised that residents move their cars as
soon as an emergency is declared in order to avoid any confusion about
timelines.


COMMUNICATION OF A SNOW EMERGENCY

* The Commissioner of the Department of Public Works will
notify the Communications Department of the emergency. The
Communications
Department will immediately notify the local access television channel
(Channel 16 for Comcast customers; Channel 13 for RCN customers) and
all
major broadcast channels and radio stations.

* The Somerville Police will immediately begin making
announcements from their vehicles, warning residents to move their
cars.

* The emergency will be posted immediately on the City's
website, www.ci.somerville.ma.us <http://www.ci.somerville.ma.us>.

* Residents may call the 24-hour Snow Line at (617) 628-SNOW
((617) 628-7669) to find out when an emergency is in effect.
* Residents may sign up to receive an emailed snow alert by
going to <http://lists.somerville.ma.us/mailman/listinfo/snowalert>.


PARKING, TICKETING AND TOWING RULES DURING A SNOW EMERGENCY

* Parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street
only during a snow emergency, unless otherwise posted. Residents with
cars
on the even side of the street must either move their cars to the odd
side
or, if they cannot find a space, move to another location (available
city
lots are listed below.)
* Ticketing of cars parked on the even-numbered side of the
street will commence on all streets four hours after the emergency is
declared.
* Towing of cars parked on the even-numbered side of the
street will also commence four hours after the emergency is declared.
* Again, it is strongly advised that residents move their cars
as soon as an emergency is declared to avoid any confusion about
timelines.


OFF-STREET PARKING LOTS OPEN DURING SNOW EMERGENCY

* Residents may park in the designated areas listed below
during a snow emergency.
* Once the snow emergency is lifted, vehicles must be removed
within two hours.

Schools

WARD 1 East Somerville Community School
WARD 2 Lincoln Park Community School
WARD 3 Cummings School
WARD 4 Healey School
WARD 5 Brown School
WARD 6 Powderhouse Community School
WARD 7 West Somerville Neighborhood School


Municipal Buildings

City Hall Concourse
Central Library
West Branch Library

Municipal parking lots Location

1. Buena Vista Lot Buena Vista Road, via
Holland St. or Meacham Rd
2. Day Street Lot Day Street
3. Grove Street Lot A Grove St. at Highland Ave,
referred to as "Brooks/Osco Lot"
4. Grove Street Lot B Grove St. east side, between
Highland Ave & Elm St, "Grove Street Lot"
5. Grove St. Lot C Grove St east side, between
Highland Ave & Elm St, "Liquor Lot"
6. Grove Street Lot D Grove St, west side between
Highland Ave & Elm St,
"McDonald's Lot"
7. Cutter Square Lot Elm St/ Summer St at Cutter
Ave
8. Magoun Square Lot Broadway at Medford Street
9. Winter Hill Lot A Broadway, north side between
Fellsway west and Wheatland St
10. Winter Hill Lot B Broadway, north side between
Wheatland St and Grant St
11. Union Square Lot Off Washington St, entrance at
Washington St/Bonner Ave
12. Prospect St Lot Prospect St at Somerville
Ave/Washington St
13. Washington St Lot Washington St opposite Columbus
Ave, "Post Office Lot"
14. Mount Vernon St Lot Broadway between Mount Vernon St
and Mt Pleasant St
15. Foss Park Lot Foss Park at Broadway


PLOWING PROCEDURES
* The streets will be treated with salt and sand once the snow
begins.
* Plowing will begin after two inches of snow has fallen.
* Main roads, cross town streets, bus routes and the "hospital
hills" will be plowed first.
* Plows will be sent out in tandem where applicable to plow to
the curb on the even side of the street.

RESIDENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SIDEWALKS
* Residents must shovel, salt or sand their sidewalks when it
snows.
* Residents have six hours between sunrise and sunset after
the snow stops to shovel sidewalks.
* Residents are not allowed to shovel snow into the street.
* Not complying with these provisions could result in a $25.00 fine.
____________________________________________________________________________
" The City of Somerville is sending this notification as a courtesy
only and accepts no liability for the timeliness or reliance thereon. This
notification should be deemed supplementary to the standard and primary
notification on the City of Somerville Official website which has an
address of www.ci.somerville.ma.us. The recipient hereof should confirm
this notification with the website and/or check with other official
notification resources such as the City of Somerville Department of Public
Works at (617)625-0300 or local public access television on City Cable
Channel 16(RCN Channel 13). The delivery of this notification may not
occur in a timely fashion which may be due to situations beyond the
control of the City. The City of Somerville accepts no liability for the
failure of an intended recipient to follow the advise herein provided."
____________________________________________________________________________
Snowalert mailing list
Snowalert@lists.somerville.ma.us
http://lists.somerville.ma.us/mailman/listinfo/snowalert