Committee Report CR-1
The Transportation, Traffic and Parking Committee conducted a public meeting on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 5:30 PM in the Sullivan Chamber.
Present at the meeting were Councillor Craig Kelley, Chair of the Committee, Councillor Leland Cheung, Councillor Kenneth Reeves, Councillor Sam Seidel, Robert W. Healy, City Manager, Richard Rossi, Deputy City Manager, Lisa Peterson, Commissioner of Public Works, John Nardone, Assistant Public Works Commissioner for Operations, Rebecca Fuentes, Assistant Public Works Commissioner for Administration, Sue Clippinger, Director, Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, Stephen Ahern, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Michael Muehe, Executive Director, Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and Donna P Lopez, Deputy City Clerk.
Also present were JoAnn Haas, Sandy Durmaskin, Elizabeth Dean-Clower, Don Summerfield, members, Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Rachel Tenenhaus, Chair, Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Samantha Galinas, Reporter, Boston University, 91 Bay State Road, Boston, Margot Kempers, 582 Franklin Street, Megan Brook, 103 Inman Street, Charlie Marquardt, 10 Roger Street, Bobby Vilinsky and Heidi Meyer, 4 Putnam Gardens, Ted Live, 17 Wendell Street, Cristin McMurray, 591 Franklin Street, Carice Pingenot, Livable Streets Advocacy Committee, and Elizabeth MacArthur, 29 Magee Street.
Councillor Kelley opened the meeting and stated the purpose. He clarified that the goal of the meeting was to discuss snow clearance and operations and not so much snow removal, which the City generally does not do. His hope was to be able to create a document for the public so that people could view the City's future snow operations in more detailed context. He stated that he appreciates all the work that is being done; the fact that we are being critical of the final result does not mean we are not appreciative of the work being done.
Councillor Reeves outlined specific problem areas. River Street, he stated was like climbing mountains. He stated that the focus should be on pedestrian crossings and major corners should be addressed. He suggested using seventh and eighth graders or high school students to do some shoveling. The second area of concern was the Essex Street cab stand. To get a cab a person had to walk around a mound of snow; this is dangerous. No one is responsible to clear snow from the curb to the cab. He suggested a corner ownership by residents to clear snow at corners.
Councillor Cheung stated he is getting many e-mails relating to snow. He stated that Cambridge is doing a better job than other communities to move snow. Given the resources there is room for improvement. He stated the complaints in the e-mails were about corners, parked cars not being shoveled out and furniture or objects used to save parking spaces.
At this time the committee heard from City Manager Robert Healy who stated that they has been a huge effort on the part of the Public Works Department, Police Department, Traffic , Parking and Transportation Department, Danehy Park workers, and public and private contractors to clear snow. He stated it is impossible to resolve all the issues and they must be prioritized in order for the City to address the more important issues first. The city's priority is public safety and emergency vehicles' ability to travel on city streets, which has an impact on how and where snow is removed post-storm. He stated that there is a separate operation for salting and for plowing. He stated schools and youth centers are cleared first then the operation moves to pedestrian operation. Bus stops are cleared by city workers even though that is the MBTA's responsibility. Pedestrian ramps are opened even where there are mounds of snow. He stated 10 out of the last 12 nights have been spent to remove snow while sanding and plowing operations are ongoing. Major arteries are cleared first. It is a difficult balance, he stated, when a snow emergency is declared and the question where folks should put their cars because people cannot leave cars parked on a snow emergency street, yet there is limited space on other streets. Plus towing people who don't move their cars because they are not home or do not learn about the emergency can be very upsetting. He stated that the First Street Garage and the Galleria Mall garage are used to park vehicles during a snow emergency. In an effort to encourage residents to get automobiles off the city streets there are deals offered at the garages. He informed the committee that the right side of Inman Street was cleared of snow today after an overnight removal operation. Making pedestrian areas accessible at intersections at all squares is a priority. He stated that River Street and the cross street will be cleared but not for a mid-block crossing. The City, he said, does not clear mid-block crossings as a rule. He stated that this winter it has been difficult because every four - five days a significant level of precipitation was received impacting the ongoing clearing operations. He stated that as of yet some complaints have not had a response. The width of streets has narrowed because of the accumulation of snow. He informed the committee that Archstone Smith, Northpoint, Harvard University, and M I T have cooperated with the city in allowing the City to store removed snow on their properties, but that, otherwise, finding places to put removed snow is very difficult because the Charles River cannot be used as a snow dumping area as it was many years ago. Mr. Healy stated the city has received complaints about the reverse bells on snow clearing equipment, especially when run at night during removal operations, but he noted that this safety equipment is mandatory even if it is bothersome to the people living close to the operations area who have their sleep disrupted. Snow clearance is done in the nighttime hours because otherwise the impacts on traffic are too dramatic. The snow is being melted from the sun but with the melt and the drop in temperatures it creates the need to salt because the melt refreezes. He also stated that there are a limited number of employees in the Public Works Department and they are tired. Outside contractors have been called to assist in the cleanup effort but, at a certain point, the equipment and staff, to include contractors, available are simply maxed out and can do no more. He stated that Commissioner Peterson would discuss the specifics of operation. The City Manager explained the problem with declaring a snow emergency from a logistical viewpoint in making sure that as many venues as possible inform people of the emergency. The City contracts with a weather prediction company and monitors traditional weather reports as well in an attempt to use the best information possible prior to declaring a snow emergency and for related snow operations. He stated that all broadcast media are notified as soon as possible when a snow emergency is declared. Snow tickets were issued. He stated that there are 150 miles of streets with a total of 250 miles of curbs (this includes both sides of the streets) that need clearance operations.
Councillor Reeves also commented on a significant issue that is created at the crossing at Carl Barron Plaza. At this location water is accumulating and creating a "lake." Central Square is a transportation hub and it is the city's responsibility to make sure that this area is accessible for the public to traverse. Commissioner Peterson commented that between the rain and the melts the city needs to open the catch basins. The corners need a place for the water to drain. She stated that bobcats are assigned to clear the corner areas. She further stated that the bus stops on River Street were cleared of snow. Deputy City Manager Rossi stated that this area went immediately into the priority plan. At this time Commissioner Peterson discussed responses to awaiting report items relating to snow issues.
regarding a report on practices that will mitigate problems that occur when plowing snow into areas that have been shoveled by residents and the insufficient and/or improper shoveling of the pedestrian way,
regarding the use of city garages during snow emergencies and reinstituting the use of bullhorns to announce snow emergencies.
She also spoke about the snow program. The public information officer updates the Public Works website. She stated that during weather events the weather is monitored continuously. The City Manager declares a snow emergency, of which five have been declared thus far, when there are six or more inches of snow. Salting and pretreatment are the first parts of a snow response operation, followed by plowing and pedestrian operations. The City can have up to 150 pieces of equipment working on snow operations. She outlined the priority areas. The city is responsible for 18 miles of city sidewalks such as those alongside parks and public buildings. Opening schools in the city is a priority, which means an early effort on school bus stops, school parking lots and crossings and sidewalks associated with students walking to school. She stated that to be eligible for the city's snow exemption program, run by the Danehy Park staff, an applicant must be a low income homeowner and either elderly or disabled to qualify. She stated that there are 200 bus stops and crosswalks on major streets in the city. This year the bus stops on Western Avenue and River Street were added to the city clearance program. She stated that when a snow emergency is declared towing operations begin. Extensive snow removal operations were done and are continuing to move snow this weekend she stated. She stated that from December 26 through January 12, 2011 35 inches of snow was received. During past 52 days, 71" of snow has fallen and 48 days have been spent on nighttime snow clearance work. The only days that work was not done was Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. She stated that snow removal logistics is different; this work needs to be done overnight. Where snow removal operations and street clearance work should be done is decided by a combined review of the streets by the Cambridge Fire Department, the Cambridge Police Department, DPW and the Traffic, Transportation and Parking Department. They had done it on 37 streets thus far. She stated that snow was removed to Danehy Park as well as properties owned by Archstone Smith, MIT and Harvard. Snow has been removed from 37 streets in the city representing 15,000 tons of snow, or the equivalent of rubbish collection for one year. She gave an example of the volume of snow removal on Inman Street - 100 loads of snow were removed.
Commissioner Peterson next spoke on enforcement. There is a snow hotline. There have been 1992 complaints and all the complaints have been inspected. There have been 972 snow tickets issued as of February 10, 2011. She also explained the collaboration and cooperation of the various city departments as well as outside groups such as GreenStreets. She expressed her thanks for the cooperation of other city departments with her department. The committee next heard from the Director of Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department.
Ms. Clippinger stated that the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, in addition to sidewalk enforcement, are responsible for the Traffic Regulations and works with the Police Department and the towing operations. She listed the priorities used by her department
. The first priority is to make sure that the streets can handle emergency vehicles, oil delivery trucks and so forth. The second is to make sure they can handle busses and general traffic, to include some thought given to bicycle traffic. The third priority is to have metered spaced included in parking bans to allow appropriate plowing, but that is a difficult logistical issue. She noted that residents have trouble clearing their own spots. She noted that emergency routes were all reviewed in 2005 and that they are all signed properly, but residential streets are not signed to allow people more ability to park their cars off of emergency streets. She further stated that the issues this winter were no parking signs left up after the snow ban was lifted due to streets being narrow and keeping them open for accessibility and travel; snowbound cars, and cars parked at the corners blocking the travel lane. She explained that if a person possesses a valid resident parking permit and is parked in a residential area the car can be left until street cleaning which begins in April. There is no "storage" prohibition for properly registered and stickered vehicles. Ten foot travel lane violation tickets have been issued because travel lanes are blocked and emergency vehicles cannot get down streets when cars park too far from the curb.
Councillor Cheung stated that he was under the impression that cars could be left in a parking spot for three days. Mr. Healy responded that that the Traffic Regulations state that a resident with a resident parking sticker parked in a designated residential area can remain parked until street cleaning which begins in April. There is no state statute that regulates street parking so City parking regulations govern. Ms. Clippinger further explained that if a non-resident is parked more than 24 hours the car is considered illegally parked.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Stephen Ahern, outlined the Police Department's function during snow emergencies and the aftermath. He stated is a combined effort between The Public Works Department, the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department in the Police Department. The Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department determine the priority routes for towing and CPD sends out three crews to clear those routes. After the towing operations are complete and the snow emergency is over the Police Department assesses arteries to make sure that they are accessible. The Police Department assists the Public Works Department with snow removal. Cars will be towed if parking in temporarily designated ‘no parking' areas. Police officers are deployed to schools for safety. During the last five storms 506 vehicles were towed and 700 police hours were dedicated to sit the snow emergency. Officers block streets during snow removal operations. Mr. Healy commented that when private snow clearing is ongoing snow cannot be put on the public ways and that CPD, knowing this rule, is supposed to keep people from doing that. Mr. Rossi also added that the Public Works Department gets updates from the School Department, the MBTA and the Fire Department.
Councillor Seidel asked how the Fire Department and the Public Works Department deal with impassable streets. Mr. Healy responded cars are towed. He added that every effort is made to contact the owner before the car is towed. The Fire Department is notified when a street is impassable for emergency vehicles.
Councillor Kelley stated that from a walking perspective residents have shoveled the sidewalk to get to the curb and then the plows come along and plow snow and slush back onto the sidewalk and this is difficult, and at some point impossible, to remove. He stated that Rindge Avenue from Peabody to Mass. Avenue is unwalkable. He stated he would rather see the bobcats clearing pedestrian intersections rather than the emphasis on vehicles. He asked if there was any thought as to why there is not more emphasis on clearing pedestrian routes rather than parking and travel lanes. Commissioner Peterson responded that the Public Works Department has put a lot of priority to clean corners and that the snow removal priority is not centered on parking issues. She stated that she would add Rindge Avenue to the area to be cleared with the bobcats. Councillor Kelley added that this is a systematic issue; at what point does the city expect homeowners to clear the sidewalk. Commissioner Peterson stated that the property owner is responsible to clear sidewalks to the crosswalk if at a corner. In a city with 125 miles of street there will be areas that are problematic. Supervisors review their area of responsibility she stated. Municipal properties, parks and crossing guard locations are the priorities. Mr. Healy stated that the snow melting, freezing, melting and refreezing exacerbated the problem. Mr. Rossi stated that the police were notified of a problem in the area of Rindge Avenue where a private property owner was plowing snow into the sidewalk. Councillor Kelley asked if property owners were responsible to clear snow to the end of the ramp. Commissioner Peterson responded in the affirmative.
Councillor Seidel spoke about the lack of indication of what is the violation on the tickets. Commissioner Peterson stated that a fluorescent notice is placed on the doorknob of residences; it is not a ticket. The address is matched to the property owner and then a ticket is sent out that list the violation and the date issued. The doorknob tag is a visual notice that a problem exists. Ms. Clippinger added that the Parking Control Officers use a smaller ticket and the violation is not listed on the ticket. Later a ticket is sent in the mail outlining the violation.
Councillor Seidel spoke about limiting snow removal in night time hours. Mr. Healy stated that snow removal is a nighttime operation. Reverse bells are required by law on vehicles. He stated that this winter was an extraordinary circumstance and snow removal operations would always be considered as emergencies. In normal winters snow is plowed only. Removal is very expensive. For the last 20 nights snow has been removed on priority routes he stated. Snow removal requires a bucket and an 18 wheeler and then a dump truck. The city has spent $1.7 million on snow thus far this winter but not all snow piles will ever be removed other than through melting. Mr. Rossi commented that as land gets developed and sold finding areas to dump snow is getting more difficult, exacerbated because we cannot dump in the river.
JoAnn Haas, member of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, spoke about mobility issues at corners and ramps which are impassable. When curb corners on side streets are impassible, clear main streets are ultimately inaccessible. What is the responsibility of the property owner to clear the sidewalk to the street she asked? She spoke about handicap parking spaces. Handicap parking spaces are plowed but due to the snow being so high on the curbside people are not able to get wheelchairs out of the cars. She noted that people are slipping and falling everywhere. She suggested creating incentives to let everyone know that we are all in this together and to work together to make travel accessible for all in a non-punitive manner.
Councillor Seidel asked if the city focus on commercial areas. Ms. Peterson said that in high pedestrian areas like Central Square and Harvard Square, the City did a lot of outreach and various property managers do a lot of work in Harvard Square. Mr. Rossi responded that commercial establishments employ private contractors to deal with snow. Snow in those areas was being hauled away.
Councillor Kelley asked if the use of a snowmeltor is feasible for next year. Mr. Nardone stated that the city has reviewed the use of snowmeltors. He stated that the snowmeltor would be an additional piece of equipment to what is now used to remove snow and it makes the operation slow. There is a place for them, and that place may become more relevant as snow dump locations become more limited. He stated that there are other issues with the use of a snowmeltor such as maintenance, space, time to heat it up, the need for training and loading equipment and so forth. All in all, snowmeltors are not a clear benefit at this point. Mr. Rossi added that the cost of a snowmeltor is in the $250,000 range and the city needs more than one. Maintenance and breakdowns would be an issue. Streets would have to be blocked off and then there is an issue with noise with the use of a snowmeltor. Councillor Kelley question if the city had looked at a snowmeltor. Commissioner Peterson stated that a demonstration of a Snow Dragon snowmeltor was done on New Street last year. The equipment needs to drain into a combined sewer to be used successfully. This equipment may play a role in snow operations in the future but a number of them would be needed to make a difference and they are very expensive items, probably being a capital expenditure like fire trucks. Other communities have snow yards she stated and those who use snowmeltors do other snow operations as well. Councillor Seidel suggested regional snowmeltor use. Councillor Kelley stated that a snowmeltor is a capital expense, needs to be budgeted and an RFP needs to be done. Mr. Rossi stated that the City would continue to review snowmeltor options on a regular basis.
Don Somerfield, Commission for Persons with Disability member, stated that there is confusion on the interpretation around clearing snow to the curbs. The ordinance needs to be rewritten.
Dr. Elizabeth Dean-Clower, 18 Bank St., Commission for Persons with Disability member, expressed her concerns with gait mobility (users of canes and wheelchairs, of which she is one). She also spoke about handicap parking spaces. There is an inability to open passenger car doors because of snow at the curb and on one-way streets where the driver's side is next to the curb. Parking spaces are cleared, but accessibility does not exist she stated. This is a safety concern. She stated that the sidewalk paths are not wide enough for persons with disability. She also spoke on the lack of clarity in the language in the ordinance and noted that it's a double bind mobility issue for people who are not able-bodied as the regulations are not clear about how far down a curb ramp people should shovel.
Ted Live, 17 Wendell St., spoke about the allocating and equitable use of plowing equipment, in that some streets, such as Mass Ave, seem to be repeatedly plowed even when there is no longer any snow getting moved while other streets, such as Garfield, hardly seem to get plowed at all. He also spoke about areas where a two lane became a one lane due to the way the snow was plowed. This usually occurred at intersections. The constriction is only at the corner for the last twenty yards or so where left and right turn lanes are crowded into one central lane and turns cannot happen during the appropriate light cycle. He cited Wendell Street and Mass. Avenue and Mass Avenue and Alewife Brook Parkway as areas where this occurs. This also causes traffic backed up. He submitted photos
He suggested improving plowing at intersections and plowing to curb where there are no parked cars. He stated that on Oxford Street the plows did not plow to the curb.
Megan Brook spoke about low lying areas and melting snow and drainage and argued that the City should make sure that overdevelopment does not leave us with no place to put snow. She wanted the drains opened and the locations marked. She stated that the weak link in the chain is the gap of information between the residents and the city. Clarification is needed on the rules, such as what type of snow moving is permissible. She stated that the city is not prioritizing the cars and parking, it is addressing public safety issues for accessibility for emergency and fire vehicles and does not reflect a bias against pedestrian. She asked who does a resident call if they see a private plowing operator putting snow back in the street. She wanted this information printed on the city's website and in the snow packet people get so that everyone is on the same page, citizens and City departments. She stated that if the city digs out a crosswalk where is the incentive for the adjacent property owner to dig it out and worries that at some point who winds up owning the problem becomes, in itself, a problem.
Rachel Tanenhaus, Chair, Commission for Persons with Disabilities, stated that she and her guide dog have had trouble navigating and getting around this year. It's especially tough on trash days. Her dog has fallen with the snow and ice. She stated that she needs to walk in the street because the conditions of the sidewalks are so poor but that can be tough because her dog is trained not to walk her in the street. Persons with disabilities are at a higher percentage to fall. She stated that islands in the middle of the street are not plowed and going into the street can get someone killed. She wanted clarification in the ordinance about responsibilities for taxi stands. A person cannot get into a taxi cab without climbing snow bank and that can be very dangerous. She appreciates that this has been an exceptional winter but she cannot get to where she needs or wants to go and that impact is now. She cannot just go to work next year or when the snow melts. She stated that she also realize that this is not deliberate discrimination but discrimination does not have to be deliberate. She is impacted with pain and being late to work now. Where the rubber meets the road, things are not getting done. People live in Cambridge not cars. She wanted emphasis on people.
Charlie Marquardt, 10 Rogers Street, complimented city workers on a great job, notably trash workers. He stated that brick sidewalks freeze quicker and frost heaves are problematic and we should review use of brick. Bump outs have their good and bad points. Plows he said are staying away from the bump outs leaving snow in mounds. He spoke of the problem of potholes, which pose dangers for cars and bikes. Calendar Street has a pothole problem. Storm drain blockages are a problem. And puddles may hide 3 foot deep holes.
Bobby Vilinsky, 4 Putnam Gardens, stated he has mobility impairment. He has a handicap parking space outside his residence but cannot park in the space with the snow. The Bobcat operator cleared snow on the sidewalk around the Martin Luther King School and did not know where to put the snow and put it in the handicap parking spot. Other people have done similar things. He spoke of his neighbor being unable to attend meetings because of the inaccessibility of wheelchairs ramps that are blocked by snow at places like the Cambridge Housing Authority. It is not clear who is responsible where City/private areas blend together. It makes mobility tough for everyone.
Carice Pingenot, Livable Streets Advocacy Committee, stated she is a year-round cyclist. She wanted to know how bike lane clearance was prioritized. She stated that the Broadway corridor is popular for cyclists but is the worst cleared bike lane. She submitted photos of the bike lanes (
. She stated if the bike lanes are not cleared completely cyclist must veer around o obstacles and move out into traffic which is dangerous. Parked cars forced out from the curb by snow can really block bikes and traffic and ticketing does not seem to be enough to address this problem. After ticketing, cars may move but other cars may replace them. Maybe more clearly mark not parking, snow emergency spaces. She wanted a good phone number and email contact point. She stated that the area around Legal Seafood in Kendall Square needs to be marked "No Parking" permanently. She stated that the bike lanes especially on Broadway are not plowed to the curb.
Commissioner Peterson stated that plowed snow would be put on the curb and that if snow is plowed too far back, it winds up on the sidewalk and makes the sidewalk less passable. The snow needs to be removed.
Elizabeth MacArthur, Commission for Persons with Disability member, spoke about ice not being removed. People need to be better about removing ice. She stated that school buses are getting stuck at every corner because there is not enough room for them to maneuver around the corners, noting that areas like Calendar Street are especially problematic. She stated that school buses associated with the ML King School need to be rerouted during a snow emergency. She stated nothing should be put in handicapped spaces. The city should give a large fine for this violation.