For Immediate Release: 1/26/2015 3:18 pm
Worcester, MA (January 26, 2015) - City Manager Edward M. Augustus has declared a snow emergency, effective at 3:00 PM today. Municipal offices and facilities, including City Hall, the Worcester Public Library and Worcester Senior Center will be closed to the public on Tuesday. Non-essential City employees should not to report to work.
The City Manager is also urging local businesses to close Tuesday in order to keep people and vehicles off the road to allow clear passage for emergency public safety vehicles and efficient snow removal.
Augustus reminds Worcester residents that the Gov. Baker has declared a travel ban beginning at midnight. Both the MBTA and the WRTA have suspended operations, starting at midnight.
Mayor Joseph M. Petty has canceled the City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening.
Residents are reminded that the City's snow parking ban is still in effect. That means there is NO PARKING on any of the City's major roads, bus routes or any street downtown. Parking is limited to the odd-numbered side of other streets, unless otherwise posted. Check the City's website to see rules for a particular street.
The City is planning to enforce the parking ban in the hours leading up to the storm. Cars parked illegally will be towed at the owners' expense.
"We're asking residents to help us help you. Illegally-parked vehicles are the biggest obstacle to effective snow removal efforts," Augustus said. "The more people who can get their cars off the streets, the better our storm response will be."
Augustus has also waived the normal $5 overnight parking fee for all municipal garages in advance of this week’s predicted snowstorm.
Residents are encouraged to use these garages in order to get their vehicles off the city streets, keeping them clear for plow drivers. This will also give residents the opportunity to avoid having to shovel out their cars.
The four city-owned garages are:
Pearl-Elm Municipal Garage
20 Pearl Street, Worcester
Federal Plaza Municipal Garage
570 Main Street, Worcester
Major Taylor Municipal Garage
30 Major Taylor Boulevard, Worcester
Union Station Municipal Garage
225 Franklin Street, Worcester
