The Manager's report back on snow operations with a focus on crosswalks and pedestrian islands

Summary The Department of Public Works leads snow and ice operations for the City, but many other departments are involved in the operation, including the Water Department, Department of Transportation, Human Services Department, and School Department. In addition to those departments involved in direct operations, there is close coordination with the City Manager’s Office, Emergency Communications, Inspectional Services Department, Fire Department and Police Department throughout storm events.

Another important partner in this work is the Commission for Persons with Disabilities Commission. DPW staff meet annually with the Commission to review operations, answer questions and gather feedback on ways to continue to improve / expand snow operations.

The goal of snow operations is to keep the city operational, support emergency response, and provide safe travel for our community. Over the last 15+ years the program has matured and uses technology to improve efficiency, a wider variety of equipment to support our changing public right-of-way, brine (a liquid that can be placed on surfaces in advance of storms as a deicer and reduces the use of more traditional road salt), and increased outreach efforts to inform residents and businesses, including the revamped snow center at www.cambridgema.gov/snow#snowresources. The snow center is a central location for information about snow operations, parking bans, school closures, etc.

As the program has grown, there has been an increased emphasis on clearance for both bicycle and pedestrian facilities. And while DPW does not clear all sidewalks in the city, they do clear over 30 miles of sidewalks and also enforce city ordinances associated with sidewalk clearance.

Background to winter storm response

Storm forecasting

The City contracts with two metrological companies who provide detailed temporal and spatial forecasts for the City throughout the year. DPW staff are in contact with these services on a continuous basis before, during and after snow storms so that our response is properly calibrated 2

to the nature of the storm. This coordination allows DPW to better anticipate the crew sizes and starting times, the numbers and types of contracting equipment that will be utilized, whether a snow emergency will be called, and helps inform the School Department, as they evaluate delays in school openings or cancellations.

While forecasting has become much more accurate in the last decade, there continues to be times when forecasts shift, leading to more or less snow than anticipated. Storms can also have significant variability in snow totals over small areas, making it challenging to get an accurate and consistent forecast.

Example of forecasts provided to the City by Hometown Forecast Service 01/28/25.

Use of Technology

DPW has implemented new software and hardware technology to improve the process for calling in staff, deploying equipment and tracking equipment throughout storms. During storms, DPW uses GPS technology to ensure full route coverage by drivers and route optimization. DPW also uses pavement temperature and moisture sensors together with more advanced weather station microclimate indicators to better ensure an optimum response to storm events as they emerge.

Snow plowing

During medium snow storms (generally 3” to 6”), DPW together with the Water Department and the Department of Transportation, typically deploy 50 to 80 pieces of equipment and have mechanics, supervisors and management staff to assist in ensuring the operations run smoothly.

During larger storms (generally 6” or greater), the City typically supplements the operation with contractors providing an additional 90 or more pieces of equipment. However, over the last number of years, it has become more challenging to attract contractors into the city given the uncertainty associated with winter weather, the challenging nature of snow plowing, the low unemployment numbers statewide and competition from other entities for the same equipment. When DPW uses contractors, they carefully evaluate when and how many 3

contractors should be brought in to help manage the storm, while also being good financial stewards of city finances.

Snow Removal

DPW does not typically remove snow during storm events, as it is a costly operation and there are limited locations to store snow. However, during larger events (typically more than 6”) or back–to- back-to-back events, DPW will evaluate organizing a “bus stop operation”, which includes high priority bus stops, adjacent sidewalks, and adjacent crosswalks. And in some larger events, more extensive snow removal may be required in order to keep our streets operational.

Throughout storm events staff from DPW,

Department of Transportation, School Department

and Fire Department assess and address access issues for MBTA and school buses on streets where widths have been constrained by windrows. This issue is one that can also exist in business districts where making deliveries becomes much more challenging. This becomes even more important when one snow event follows immediately after another.

These bus stop and snow removal operations are major multi-evening events and can have significant costs. The equipment used for snow removal is substantially larger and more costly to operate than the equipment associated with snow plowing. Depending on the storm, it can take two to four nights with an average contractor cost of $200,000 / night and may extend even further depending on the size of the storm.

One of the significant constraints of snow removal is where to physically put the snow.

Snow Storage

The City has very limited space to use for snow that is removed from the public way. Typically, the City hauls snow to the large parking lot on the west side of Danehy Park on New Street. In previous years, DPW was able to use space at the corner of Binney Street and Fulkerson Street, before it was transformed into the park. DPW also coordinates with Harvard and have been able to use one of the larger Harvard University properties in Allston. However, this area is likely to be redeveloped at some point in the future.

In addition to space concerns, once snow is removed to Danehy or other locations, this snow must then be managed to ensure there is adequate space for the next storm and to make sure, in the case of Danehy Park, that late season storms don’t overly constrain parking when spring sports begin.

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Sidewalk Clearance – City Operations and Property Owner Responsibilities