SNOW EMERGENCY tomorrow

[ron_newman]

Hello, this is Michael Meehan from the City of Somerville with snow alert information for Sunday, December 26th. Based on current weather projections, the City will be declaring a snow emergency effective at noon on Sunday. During snow emergencies parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street only (unless otherwise posted). Cars not moved from the even-numbered side of the street by 4 p.m. tomorrow afternoon may be subject to ticketing and towing. Residents unable to find a parking space on the odd-numbered side of the street may park in any municipal lot or in designated school parking lots.

(from e-mail I just received)

Comments

[photolight1.livejournal.com]

There won't even be significant snow predicted until later (and still not sure how much will hit us) and they have to declare the emergency for 4:00?
They will probably have the ticket givers ready to patrol the neighborhoods.
Merry Christmas from the city of Somerville.

[ron_newman]

National Weather Service has issued an official blizzard warning starting from noon tomorrow, predicting 15 to 20 inches of snow.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

I'm waiting to see if they ticket people before the official ticketing time, and then tell them it's not the city's fault.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

It's funny to read this comment, now that we know the snow started flying by 2pm and by 4pm it was really starting to suck.

[bex77]

This may make life really interesting for the people who left their car parked on the street while they were gone away for the long weekend, and won't be back until Monday or later...

[lheena.livejournal.com]

I'm getting back Tuesday night. .... I don't know wtf to do :

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

You still have key's here at your place and have a friend or roommate? You have till 4 tomorrow to figure it out, or if no keys get a friend or someone here in the DSLJ to put a note on the car begging not to tow because the owner is out of town. Thinking more worst case is you get a ticket and when it is time to contest you show T&P your return flight ticket. Just trying to help- when I lived in Winter Hill, in 05 I think, I was in Maine for the holidays during a winter storm and got my car towed cause it was close to the highway so I know it is crappy thing

[lheena.livejournal.com]

My roommate's in france, doesn't have a driver's lisence, and I've got my car keys here.

I've a small boon - I don't technically live in Somerville proper (technically live in City of Boston) and this is my very first Boston winter - but it seems that Boston is much less likely to declare snow emergencies / also declare them for non-major arteries, although from what I hear enough snow could drop that I'm still in trouble.

The last thing I expected before I went home was a blizzard :( Everyone told me that I wouldn't have to worry about it. =/ That it barely snowed before the middle of January.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

Call 311 and see if they have any other option for you? (The number from outside the state is 617-635-4500.)

[lheena.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'll do that!

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, any time you leave your car behind during the winter, you are taking this risk. I got surprised by the April 1st blizzard years ago, but was lucky enough to be parked on the odd side of the street. I've also seen this happen when the city declares your spot needed for repairs like sidewalk or water main work.

Guess that's why Somerville has a 48 hour parking rule.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

So on that note, who wants to recommend a snow removal company? I'm out of state and will need access to my driveway when I get back... (I've called a couple of obvious prospects from Angie's List, but I imagine there'll be a lot of demand.)

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Doesn't that fall under your cat-sitter's responsibilities?

[knowthyself.livejournal.com]

anyone know if one has been called for Cambridge?

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

i'm waiting for this too since that's where i'll be tomorrow, and the one driveway spot is likely to be taken. LE SIGH

[ursamajor]

Still haven't seen a snow alert email from Cambridge as of 9:30 am this morning ...

Edit: Not even 10 minutes later, Cambridge declares a snow emergency for 2 pm this afternoon.

parking ban / travel

[springhill02143.livejournal.com]

The first place I lived in Somerville didn't have a driveway, and I used to travel for business frequently, so when I'd go away in the winter I'd always be sure to park on the odd side of the street. It took a little extra thinking/planning, but I was thankful on more than one occasion when I'd get back from a trip and my car was buried, but not towed.

I think they're more vigilant about the regulations about clearing off your car after the storm these days too. Ugh.

I hope you work something out.

[keshwyn]

Arlington's declared a snow emergency as well:

"The Town of Arlington has declared a snow emergency effective today, December 26 starting at 6 p.m. (except Mass. Ave., which begins at 11 p.m). The ban will be lifted on Monday, December 27 at 10 a.m."

[photolight1.livejournal.com]

Wow Arlington even gives you an end time!
Somerville is always the first to declear the earliest to start and often the latest to end.
What they should do is the 1st day clean one side of the st the 2nd day clean the other and be done with it.
Many of the streets they declare as a snow emergency st really shouldn't be one. There is NO WHERE to park on a good day.
I've never seen the plows make any real difference on my street.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I wish they would clear my side of the street. Every year we get screwed since we are on the odd-side. Supposedly there is more parking on the odd side through out the city but I think thats BS.

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

No robocall?

[ron_newman]

I never got one -- just the e-mail. Anyone else get a robocall?

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I got a call last night and another one this morning around 9am. Both of our land lines got called.

[pywaket.livejournal.com]

I got two, one last night and one this morning.

[bettyw.livejournal.com]

Malden just declared for 6pm...BUT said that ALL cars must be off the streets, which sounded like not just the odd side. Parking available in school lots (and the garage near Malden Ctr T, but you must vacate that one by 8am)

EDIT: got a 2nd robocall amending that to say emergency arteries must be cleared, but secondary road parking is per the winter parking rules (park even). I bet they got a lot of complaints after the 1st call!

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I called 311 about trash removal tomorrow and the man said it was a great question with no definitive answer right now and if it were him he would put it out tonight.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this, I was trying to figure out if we should put out trash or not!!

[ominousspectre.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't trash removal be pushed back a day anyway because of the holiday? So if my trash day was usually Monday wouldn't it be Tuesday because of Christmas? Or does that only happen on weekday holidays?

[ron_newman]

the legal holiday was Friday

[ominousspectre.livejournal.com]

So would that still push back trash collection for the following week or once Sunday rolls around does the whole process reset?

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

The city did regular trash collection on Friday, so no change in pickup schedule.

[djro.livejournal.com]

Would they push it back due to snow emergency?

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

Medford has a snow emergency starting at 4 pm today (Sunday).

I don't understand one detail of their rules. http://www.medfordpolice.com/snowemergency.htm says, "Those residents who have driveways, garages, or other off-street parking facility are not allowed to park on the street for a period of time longer than one hour between 12 a.m. to 7 a.m. and could face a fine of $15."

How does this work? If someone has one off-street space, are they allowed to park a second car on the street on the legal side? What about a nonresident who parks in a neighborhood where most houses have driveways?