Boston Snow Cleanup Efforts Face Scrutiny, City Council to Discuss Improvements
Following a recent blizzard that dumped 17 inches of snow on Boston, residents and city officials are evaluating the effectiveness of snow removal operations. Although significant progress has been made in clearing streets, concerns remain regarding sidewalk accessibility, particularly in neighborhoods like Mattapan Square.
Mattapan Residents Report Icy Conditions and Difficult Access
Last Thursday, days after the storm, sidewalks around Mattapan Square were reportedly covered in ice and packed snow, forcing pedestrians into the streets. Residents described treacherous conditions, especially for seniors and individuals with disabilities. “Walking at night, climbing up a snow bank was terrible, absolutely terrible,” said Otis Bennett, 55, a daily commuter through the area. The Boston Globe reported on these initial challenges.
By Monday morning, conditions had improved significantly. Sonya Lee, 61, a Mattapan resident, stated, “The traffic is clear, the roads are clear… It’s much better now compared to when we first had the snow storm. It was awful. It was terrible.”
However, concerns persisted about lingering hazards. Iman Solomon, 77, a retired teacher from Milton, highlighted the risk to pedestrians, stating that having to walk into traffic was dangerous for everyone. Solomon similarly shared personal experiences with falls due to icy conditions, resulting in shoulder and back injuries. Lloyd Malcolm, 98, a 70-year resident of Mattapan, expressed worry about ongoing accidents.
City Council to Address Snow Removal Policies
The Boston City Council will discuss improvements to the city’s snowstorm response on Tuesday. Proposed solutions include the creation of a citywide “snow corps” – a program modeled after New York City’s system – to assist elderly or disabled residents with sidewalk clearing. The council is also considering purchasing more snow melting machines.
Snow Removal Statistics and Public Works Efforts
As of Saturday, less than a week after the blizzard, the Boston Public Works Department had removed 3,855 truckloads of snow to 13 snow farms across the city. Earlier in February, following a storm that dropped nearly two feet of snow on January 25th and 26th, the city had cleared over 6,200 truckloads. Public Works crews utilized skid steers to clear crosswalks, intersections, and curb ramps, and larger equipment was deployed overnight to clear neighborhoods, including Mattapan.
Responsibility for Sidewalk Clearing and MBTA Concerns
Councilor Enrique Pepén, representing District 5 (Hyde Park, Mattapan, and Roslindale), acknowledged that sidewalk clearing is historically the responsibility of property owners. However, he noted ambiguities in ownership, prompting further discussion at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Councilor Brian Worrell of District 4 (Mattapan, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and Roslindale) is advocating for the inclusion of sidewalk snow clearance in the next commuter rail contract with the MBTA, citing ongoing safety issues for pedestrians and people with disabilities, particularly at Fairmount Line stations.
Citizen Efforts and Lingering Concerns
Some residents reported taking matters into their own hands, creating pathways for customers before official clearing occurred. Marc Simon, a cellphone store owner in Mattapan Square, expressed concern that the city wasn’t doing enough, stating, “I see citizens trying to figure it out themselves.”