Blizzard 2015 Boston

[IslandTractor]

I've seen numerous stories in our local news on the parking situation in the Boston neighborhoods, and some on emergency response problems. But I've seen very little about other essential services. Having a hard time even imagining how basic trash collection is being managed at this point. Even if the trucks can make it through the streets, where are residents able to put the trash and recyclables for pickup? The cleared walkways in front of the homes look ridiculously narrow between the drifts. Also wondering how the thousands of UPS, FedEx and USPS parcel deliveries are being made? To say nothing of delivery and pickup of bigger stuff.

I have been stuck on a side street in Cambridge behind a garbage truck. Usually the guys are good about pulling over so traffic can pass but now the truck is essentially as wide as the plowed street. Waiting for them at every single residence is a drag!

I've seen UPS trucks, which usually pull up to the curb, simple pull into a driveway to avoid blocking traffic. Makes sense and nobody seems to mind. USPS truck still stops on the road in front of our house but there are two lanes so traffic can get by. I shovelled out a narrow passage way so the mailman can just step out of the truck, through the snow bank and up our walkway. He thanked me. Otherwise he has to walk back on the street to come up the driveway.

By the way, it has started snowing here again.

 

[Garandman]

Snowiest cities over 100,000 population in the US.
1. Worcester 112.2,
2. Lowell, MA 111.7
3. Syracuse, NY 108.5
4. Buffalo, NY 104.8
5. Boston, MA 103.9
6. Erie, PA 103.0
7. Rochester, NY 89.8
8. South Bend, IN 79.2
9. Grand Rapids, MI 75.0
10. Lakewood, CO 67.7

12. Providence, RI 64.4
14. Hartford, CT 57.7
16. Bridgeport, CT 46.0

 

[GolfAddict]

Who was 11??

 

[Garandman]

Current Top 25 Snowiest US Cities | Golden Snow Globe National Snow Contest Snowiest US City Pop 100,000+

 

[IslandTractor]

Who was 11??

Poor Cleveland never gets the respect it deserves.

 

[Garandman]

Poor Cleveland never gets the respect it deserves.

Actually, I believe it does. :RIMSHOT:

 

[IslandTractor]

Actually, I believe it does. :RIMSHOT:

That's not nice. There are very nice people in Cleveland and they have the Rock and Roll hall of fame too.

 

[Garandman]

Just looked at the numbers. In a normal winter we would get an additional 10" of snow from now to the end of the season. Last year we got just about that. So with only a little over 3" to break the all-time record I think that's going to be a safe bet.

 

[IslandTractor]

Just looked at the numbers. In a normal winter we would get an additional 10" of snow from now to the end of the season. Last year we got just about that. So with only a little over 3" to break the all-time record I think that's going to be a safe bet.

Agree.

I have been impressed by the fact that two weeks after our last "big" snowstorm, local traffic is still completely snarled every morning and evening. The backups are adding a solid half hour to a daily commute from Winchester to Cambridge or Boston which is only about a ten mile drive and typically takes 30-40 minutes even at rush hour. It has taken over an hour every day since the snows began. No problem understanding that initially with plows still clearing the streets but it is remarkable to me at least that two weeks later it hasn't improved. The backups are not only in the more congested cities like Cambridge or Boston or Somerville. We have traffic in a green leafy suburb like Winchester and also in Medford and Arlington that is very unusual. As best I can tell, all two lane roads on our route now have both lanes open and the only areas that are really still directly limited by snow are the single lane neighborhood roads. Still, traffic is snarled. I'd love to hear a professional traffic engineer's perspective on what has been happening.

And, tomorrow AM will be a disaster as we are due for sleet and freezing rain as well as some snow overnight. That at least is understandable and typical.

 

[Threepoint]

I've seen numerous stories in our local news on the parking situation in the Boston neighborhoods, and some on emergency response problems. But I've seen very little about other essential services. Having a hard time even imagining how basic trash collection is being managed at this point. Even if the trucks can make it through the streets, where are residents able to put the trash and recyclables for pickup? The cleared walkways in front of the homes look ridiculously narrow between the drifts. Also wondering how the thousands of UPS, FedEx and USPS parcel deliveries are being made? To say nothing of delivery and pickup of bigger stuff.

As a followup, I just happened to hear a news report on NPR yesterday on trash collection in Boston over the last few weeks. Very interesting. The story was produced by a reporter at WBUR and can be seen/heard here: With 100 Inches Of Snow, Trash Removal A Struggle In Boston