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Brendan Kearney submitting comments re: the snow removal ordinance.
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To the Honorable Board:
Thank you to the board for holding a public meeting to solicit feedback about the snow policy in Somerville. Many residents spoke about the challenges they and their neighbors have faced this winter. It was encouraging to hear many neighbors addressing the need to ensure walkability for all residents year round.
I offered comments at the meeting about the importance of clearing the "no man's land" areas that aren't necessarily claimed by any one property owner - access to bus stops, curb cuts, crosswalks, and pedestrian islands. Making sure these are clear are crucial for mobility for all residents of the city.
I hope the board considers the idea that we proactively contact repeat snow clearance offenders before the end of a snow event with a reverse 311 call to remind them about their responsibility. While a few residents thought the fines needed to be higher, the goal of the ordinance and ticketing should be getting 100% of our sidewalks cleared.
As Beacon Street is rebuilt with cycletracks, a project which includes a commitment to maintain the pathway throughout the year, let's have the city start a pilot program to clear sidewalks on one side of the street on heavily traveled pedestrian routes. WalkBoston has observed that in areas where a cycletrack is plowed while adjacent sidewalks are not safely cleared, people will walk on the cycletrack. Avoiding conflicts on the new cycletrack makes sidewalk clearance even more important!
If the even side sidewalks can be cleared along major streets, this would not only help pedestrians, but also residents that have plows pushing snow back onto their sidewalk (and cannot park in front of their house during snow emergencies). The city collects pedestrian and bicycle counts each fall, so could use those numbers to identify the best corridors to start clearing first.
Thank you,
Brendan Kearney