Snow Mountain Curbcuts in Newton: Keep pics coming!

Residential Sidewalk Snow Shoveling Ordinance Passed!

Newton passed a residential sidewalk snow clearing ordinance! It is a two year trial. Home-owners/residents are requested to clear their abutting public sidewalks and curbcuts free of snow during the winter. Businesses are allowed 24 hours after the snow ends, residents are allowed 30 hours to clear. Lets all continue to work with Newton departments to stop the practice of dumping snow mountains on the curbcuts and crosswalks. Everyone, lets work together so Newton has safe and accessible sidewalks all year long.

New Construction is Unacceptable!

It has rained for over 24 hours. Above photos were taken on February 24th. They show the snow mountains from city plows still blocking the public sidewalk on Wachusett Rd and Hammond Street at intersection of Commonwealth Avenue.This snow has been sitting here since the December storm. The most disturbing elements in these photos are construction flaws of these sidewalks paid for by our public funds from Mass Highway Dept and overseen by the City of Newton Traffic and Engineering Department. Notice the sidewalks end into utility poles and stop midblock on people's lawn. A wheelchair user is unable to use any of these sidewalks, and would have no other choice but to be wheeling along with the trucks and cars in the street. Newton, this is unacceptable!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Keep pics coming!

by Maryan 2/11/10: : Today is a simply perfect winter day in Newton. The sun could not be brighter and it is warmer. Newton has a soft covering of snow. Some of the curbcuts blocked have been revisted this morning by sidewalk plows to remove the snow mountain curbcuts.

Thanks to a pedestrian in Newton Lower Falls who showed the city blocked the sidewalk with snow on the curbcut in a residential area of Crehore Drive. She explained most residents are very good about shoveling their sidewalks in that area, but not all. She also told me there are wheelchair users who have to stay in the street in the area, as the sidewalks are blocked. This is not acceptable.

The village of Waban is always a delight to visit. I was rather surprised to see the sidewalks stored with snow, apparently left from the December storm. These sidewalks are impassable. Some suggested to not clear the sidewalks in dead end streets or cul-de-sac or areas where sidewalks are in disrepair. However, all pedestrians, children, wheelchairs users need to get off the street in all communities and streets. I asked Kesley's owner in agreement all sidewalks need to be cleared. Children need to walk to school, dogs need to walk their owners, and people need to walk or wheel to public transportation and shopping.

Williams School school route has blocked curbcuts. Chesley St. and Everett St. in Newton Center have the finest ski slope snow mountain curbcut in the area! (thanks for pic Alicia).

Thanks to everyone who is sending pictures around Newton of inaccessible public sidewalks and curbcuts (send to citizensforaccess@yahoo.com). Thanks to Chris's pic, I believe we can welcome a new member volunteer of the DPW , Jae Lacey out clearing our sidewalks for us. Thanks Jae!