Check home page news for any snow emergency/parking ban.
Below are many of the topics and questions asked each year during snow season.
DPW Snow & Ice Dispatch number is 781-316-3301.
National Weather Service - Forecast Office.
Be Alerted of Snow Emergencies/Parking Bans When a snow emergency/parking ban it put into place, the Town will send a notification via Arlington Alerts (phone, text, and email), Town Notices (regular email list), on its social media channels (Facebook and Twitter), and the Town’s website. If you are not subscribed to these methods you can do so at arlingtonma.gov/connect.
Emergency Phone NumbersStandard Snow Removal Procedure
Every storm is different but the Town uses the following process during a typical event. When a storm is forecast the highway division of the department kicks into high gear. We consult and review several different weather reports including our own site-specific forecast and develop an action plan for that storm. An anti-icing operation is started 1-2 hours before the predicted event. Main streets and large feeder roads are pretreated. A two-truck patrol is on duty at this time checking all roads in Town for current conditions. If a potential for freezing conditions exists then a full scale salting operation will commence. If the forecast is for more than 2 inches of snow accumulation then a plowing operation will be initiated. Depending on the severity and duration of the storm the operation could include as few as 2 vehicles to over 60 pieces of equipment. In a full-scale operation over 2/3 of the equipment on the streets will be private contractors working for the Town.
Snow and ice operations are conducted on a 24-hour a day, 7 day a week schedule. The DPW aims to keep clear all main routes and feeder roads and maintain a clear driving track on either side of the centerline on secondary streets within 6 hours of the end of snowfall. Residential side streets will be cleared within 8 hours of the end of snowfall. Cleanup operations after the end of the storm may continue for up to 24 hours or longer.
ParkingDuring a Snow Emergency a parking ban is in place for a minimum of 24 hours on all streets and parking lots. Individuals who impede the snow removal operations during a snow emergency are subject to ticketing and towing.
Even when snow emergencies/parking bans are lifted, cars are not to obstruct roadways in accordance to Traffic Rules and Orders, Article V Parking, Section 1 (e), which prohibits the parking of a vehicle “upon any roadway where the parking of a vehicle will not leave a clear and unobstructed lane at least ten (10) feet wide for passing traffic.” Not all streets can accommodate parking within this rule when snow accumulates. Parked cars violating this rule will be subject to ticketing and towing. Please be cognizant of where you park your car at all times.