A travel ban for nonessential motor vehicles in four Massachusetts counties was lifted Tuesday as the state digs out from the blizzard that dumped nearly 3 feet of snow in some communities. The travel ban for Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable and Dukes counties was lifted at noon, according to Gov. Maura Healey. StormTeam 5 tools: Alerts | Futurecast | Map Room | Radar | Closings | Snowfall totalsResidents are still advised to use caution and stay home if possible to allow crews to continue their cleanup efforts. Those who need to travel should prepare for icy, snow-covered and slushy conditions on the roadways. The state of emergency remains in effect for all counties except for Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin. A number of communities, including New Bedford, Fall River, Brockton and others, still have local travel restrictions and parking bans in place. The snow emergency in Boston has been extended until at least 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to Mayor Michelle Wu. “The hope is that, at that point, the weather, the snow, the cleanup looks OK, but we will, at closer to that time, give official word as to when it will be lifted,” Wu said.Residents in South Boston are using space savers to hold the parking spots they dig out. The space savers have to be removed within 48 hours after the end of the snow emergency.Video below: Birds-eye view of storm damage“Last snowstorm I made the mistake, went out one time at the very end, and then it took a couple of hours, so, didn’t want to make that same mistake again,” resident Connor Whalen said. Healey had already declared a state of emergency for the commonwealth ahead of the storm. Two hundred members of the National Guard were activated.Power outagesAs of Tuesday morning, more than 250,000 customers across eastern Massachusetts remained without power, and officials have warned that restoration efforts may require multiple days of work.”We know that there are still many households without power, and the utilities are working hard to assess damage and restore power as quickly and safely as possible. We thank the people of Massachusetts for their patience and caution while we work to get back to normal, and we are especially grateful for all of the workers who continue to be out here around the clock to deliver for our communities,” Healey said.Video below: MassDOT on storm cleanup effortsWhile hundreds of crews were staged across the state, restoration efforts were slowed by dangerous conditions. Utility workers operating bucket trucks can typically work only when winds are below 35 miles an hour.MBTA service changesRed, Orange, Blue and Green Line trains continued to operate at reduced levels, which officials compared to Sunday schedules. Bus routes follow snow routes and operate on a similar reduced schedule. All Commuter Rail lines are operating on their reduced Storm Schedules. Charlestown Ferry service and Hingham/Hull Ferry service resumed Tuesday with a modified schedule. Regular RIDE paratransit service will resume Wednesday, and trips may be booked as usual Tuesday.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. —
A travel ban for nonessential motor vehicles in four Massachusetts counties was lifted Tuesday as the state digs out from the blizzard that dumped nearly 3 feet of snow in some communities.
The travel ban for Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable and Dukes counties was lifted at noon, according to Gov. Maura Healey.
StormTeam 5 tools: Alerts | Futurecast | Map Room | Radar | Closings | Snowfall totals
Residents are still advised to use caution and stay home if possible to allow crews to continue their cleanup efforts. Those who need to travel should prepare for icy, snow-covered and slushy conditions on the roadways.
The state of emergency remains in effect for all counties except for Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin. A number of communities, including New Bedford, Fall River, Brockton and others, still have local travel restrictions and parking bans in place.
The snow emergency in Boston has been extended until at least 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to Mayor Michelle Wu.
“The hope is that, at that point, the weather, the snow, the cleanup looks OK, but we will, at closer to that time, give official word as to when it will be lifted,” Wu said.
Residents in South Boston are using space savers to hold the parking spots they dig out. The space savers have to be removed within 48 hours after the end of the snow emergency.
Video below: Birds-eye view of storm damage
“Last snowstorm I made the mistake, went out one time at the very end, and then it took a couple of hours, so, didn’t want to make that same mistake again,” resident Connor Whalen said.
Healey had already declared a state of emergency for the commonwealth ahead of the storm. Two hundred members of the National Guard were activated.
Power outages
As of Tuesday morning, more than 250,000 customers across eastern Massachusetts remained without power, and officials have warned that restoration efforts may require multiple days of work.
“We know that there are still many households without power, and the utilities are working hard to assess damage and restore power as quickly and safely as possible. We thank the people of Massachusetts for their patience and caution while we work to get back to normal, and we are especially grateful for all of the workers who continue to be out here around the clock to deliver for our communities,” Healey said.
Video below: MassDOT on storm cleanup efforts
While hundreds of crews were staged across the state, restoration efforts were slowed by dangerous conditions. Utility workers operating bucket trucks can typically work only when winds are below 35 miles an hour.
MBTA service changes
Red, Orange, Blue and Green Line trains continued to operate at reduced levels, which officials compared to Sunday schedules. Bus routes follow snow routes and operate on a similar reduced schedule.
All Commuter Rail lines are operating on their reduced Storm Schedules. Charlestown Ferry service and Hingham/Hull Ferry service resumed Tuesday with a modified schedule.
Regular RIDE paratransit service will resume Wednesday, and trips may be booked as usual Tuesday.
