Much of Pittsfield at Home Monday During Snowstorm
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Department of Public Works has worked with contractors in shifts to clear more than a foot of snow that fell on Pittsfield and the wider region.
Around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales reported that most, if not all, of the main routes are plowed down to the blacktop, and the roads were pre-treated.
"We have all of our main plowing routes that are essential for emergency services and getting people in and out and around Pittsfield," he explained.
"… We have 30 neighborhood routes. They have all been plowed at least once, many of them more than once. We are now working on clearing them, trying to open them, curb to curb."
The storm had students and other city workers staying home and much of the city followed. There's one-day delay in trash and recycling pickup, Berkshire Community College closed its campus on Sunday and Monday and Berkshire Regional Transportation Agency suspended bus routes.
More than a foot of snow was dumped on the region throughout the day on Sunday, and picked up again before 11 a.m. on Monday. The weekend also saw below-zero temperatures, and an Extreme Cold Warning was in effect from Friday on.
On Monday morning, the city reported 16 to 40 inches across Pittsfield, with totals varying by elevation, location and drifting. Additional inches of snow were expected throughout the day.
"As expected, our crews have had better success maintaining main roads compared to neighborhood streets," a 7:30 a.m. update from the city read.
"We are now focused on opening up streets, plowing, and treating to break down remaining snow and ice."
Plows have run into issues with cars parked in the road despite the parking ban, which remains in effect until midnight Monday, and about 30 vehicles have been towed.
Snowfall in the afternoon added a couple of inches, and plowing crews worked in rotating shifts to clear everything during the 30-plus hours of snow that began on Sunday.
The city's in-house staff are assisted by about six private contractors in clearing neighborhood streets. Morales said Pittsfield is never fully staffed for contractors, but did see more this weekend due to the intensity of the expected storm.
More than a foot of snow was dumped on the region throughout the day on Sunday, and picked up again before 11 a.m. on Monday. The weekend also saw below-zero temperatures, and an Extreme Cold Warning was in effect from Friday on.
"This is significant in snow accumulation and temperature," Morales said.
"It's not easy, but at the same time, this is very visible, and you can see the work done by everyone is very visible as opposed to an ice storm, where we're out there, and the roads are slick, but people don't understand it takes time to cover our neighborhoods."
Gov. Maura Healey directed non-emergency Executive Department state employees not report to their workplaces on Monday, and wasurging employers to consider having employees work remotely to the extent possible.
The State Emergency Operations Center was activated at the headquarters of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency in Framingham, along with regional emergency operation centers in Agawam, Tewksbury, and Franklin.
With the closure of City Hall on Monday, the Ordinances and Rules subcommittee was canceled and will be rescheduled. A conversation on AI with state Rep. Tricia Farley Bouvier and digital navigator Samuel Pascual was moved from Monday to Feb. 9 because of the weather. It will be held at 6 p.m. at 4 Frederico Drive, Suite 2 in Pittsfield.
"This is significant in snow accumulation and temperature," Morales said.
"It's not easy, but at the same time, this is very visible, and you can see the work done by everyone is very visible as opposed to an ice storm, where we're out there, and the roads are slick, but people don't understand it takes time to cover our neighborhoods."
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