What I sent to the governor's office on Monday, and what happened next

Posted by John B. Kelly

Last Monday evening, I sent an e-mail with map, along with photos of the problem sites, to one of Governor Patrick's assistants in the governor's office. I wrote that

the problem with DCR and snow is systemic and long-term. It has never in my 20 years of living here followed requirements for clearing snow. It seems to have long ago decided to ignore the Fenway except for a few sidewalks. As far as I can tell, it doesn't bother with curb cuts (maybe because they have to be done by hand), and leaves quite a few sidewalks untouched, also.

DCR came up with a snow removal priority plan, probably as a result of the West Roxbury high school students being hit on VFW Parkway three years ago. The plan is here: http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us/DCR_Snow_Priority/viewer.htm . The most valuable part of the plan for me is that it establishes jurisdiction. Here is a portion of the map with some of the problem areas (I assume there are big problems all the way around The Fens).

All of the marked areas are impassable for disabled and elderly people.

1. Curb cuts at Westland Avenue/Hemenway Street, the North Side. Also adjacent sidewalk on Hemenway Street.

2. Curb cuts on the South side of the intersection. Also adjacent sidewalk on Hemenway Street.

3. Sidewalk between 60 the Fenway and main walkway. This problem quarantines residents of 66 the Fenway.

4. Fenway crosswalk just south of Boston Fire Alarm, 59 The Fenway. Also adjacent curb cut at the northern edge of the service road.

5. Agassiz Road crosswalk.

6. Curb cut at southern edge of service road.

7. Sidewalk along The Fens from Agassiz road heading south. I saw high school students walking in the road on Monday, December 17.

Tuesday:
A truck with sand backed to and fro across the crosswalk at Agassiz road/the Fenway (#5 in the map), for what seems like quite some time, before just driving off and doing nothing.

Wednesday:
A work (prison work release?) crew comes to the same crosswalk, mostly stands around with only a few shovels, and clears a few feet of the curb cut on each side of the crosswalk. Beyond each cleared patch it remains solid ice. The (in)action is captured at Flickr.

None of the other problem areas are touched.