A snow emergency and parking ban will go into effect at 10 p.m. in Boston, Mayor Marty Walsh has announced. Also starting Saturday night, the South Boston Emergency Transportation Reconfiguration will go into effect until April 1.
In an effort to improve public safety, several streets in South Boston will become one-way only. Even numbered streets will be west-bound and odd numbered streets will be east-bound. Main arterials will remain two-way streets and streets that are currently one-way streets will maintain their original direction.
City employees are discussing the change with residents and providing detailed information. The Boston Police Department will have an increased presence in the area to help with adoption of the emergency program.
“Oh I’m for it,” said South Boston resident Jen Ruhle. “It’s a disaster out here.”
The huge snowbanks have made many streets to narrow to accommodate two cars going in opposite directions.
“It’s a death trap trying to drive around here or walk around here,” said Vanessa McMahon, also of South Boston.
Elsewhere in South Boston, resident Rachel Merson was spending Valentine’s Day with her best friend Melaney Hodge.
And that’s just what Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker was hoping for: Valentine dates continuing on despite the weather, at least until the storm takes a turn for the worse.
“It’s a Cinderella evening,” Baker said at a Saturday press conference. He’s hoping people support local businesses, but that most patrons would be home by midnight, before the storm really ramps up.
It’s a crucial holiday for restaurants, many struggling with snowstorm after snowstorm and customers staying home.
“It’s a big industry weekend,” said John Casper, bartender at Shenanigan’s Irish Pub in South Boston.
