DCR Winter Storm Plan and Priority Map

On November 1, 2009, the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD) was merged with and into the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).  For the purposes of implementing Snow and Ice Operations, reference to MHD shall mean MassDOT.  Furthermore, MassDOT and DCR have agreed to adhere to the Memorandum of Understanding previously adopted by the former MHD and DCR.

Overview of DCR Winter Storm Management Plan

DCR follows a comprehensive Storm Management Plan for the snow and ice season that: 

• clarifies locations for which DCR has snow removal responsibility

• identifies available snow removal resources

• affirms the chain of responsibility and procedures for inter- and intra-agency communications

• establishes operating procedures and policies.

To visit the Winter Storm Priority Map, please click the link below:
http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us/DCR_Snow_Priority/viewer.htm

This interactive map displays parkways, sidewalks and crosswalks symbolized by their plowing priority.  Also depicted are fire hydrants, hospitals, police stations, fire stations, schools, bus stops and other features relevant to snow removal planning.

Instructions for Using the GIS Snow Removal Priority Viewer

DCR-Mass Highway Partnership

For 2007 fiscal year, DCR amended the MOU with the Mass Highway Department regarding the snow and ice removal partnership. Effective November 1, 2006, Mass Highway Department has expanded its responsibility for providing curb-to-curb snow removal for DCR Parkways in Greater Boston Area from 40% to 63% of the 524 total miles of parkways, representing a 23% increase from the 2006 fiscal year.  A complete list of DCR parkway snow removal areas is below. DCR remains responsible for clearing sidewalks related to these parkways.

Parkways to be cleared by DCR

Parkways to be cleared by MassDOT

Snow Removal Priorities

All snow removal locations are prioritized according to the following categories:

Level 1 (during storm event):
Primary roadways and parkways*
State Police barracks
Traffic bridges
Potential flood zones
Designated sidewalks, pathways**, and crosswalks which provide safe passage in the immediate proximity to schools while in-session.

Level 2 (dedication of snow removal resources within first 12 hours after storm event):
Secondary roadways and parkways
State House passage and street parking
Sidewalks, pathways** and crosswalks providing safe passages to schools, foot bridges, bus shelters, bus stops, T-stations, including median strips and handicap ramps 

Level 3 (snow removal response may occur beyond first 12 hours after storm event):
DCR-managed ice skating rinks parking lots (12), if open
Interior park roads and tertiary parkways
DCR facilities and building parking lots
Less traveled sidewalks, pathways, crosswalks and multi-use paths**:
 
These less traveled sidewalks, cross walks and multi-use paths may be cleared as specific public safety needs warrant.  As resources allow, DCR will attempt to address Level 3 priorities by focusing on sidewalks without immediate abutters.  DCR anticipates the continued cooperation from abutters in clearing the remainder of Level 3 priority sidewalks consistent with municipal ordinances within the metropolitan Boston area.

** (Note: The  sidewalk category symbol on the DCR online viewer includes sidewalks, pathways and multi-use paths parallel to parkways and the South West Corridor Bike Path and the Charles River Bike Paths.)

Level 4
* All parkways under Mass Highway responsibility are considered priority level 1 parkways, but are coded in the GIS system as “4” for technical purposes.

Level 5
Many sidewalks and multi-use paths are not cleared by DCR in order to provide alternative winter recreational resources, such as, skiing and snowshoeing.   

The Storm Center, housed by the Division of Urban Parks and Recreation, is an internal operations center that has been established to facilitate effective internal communications and ensure smooth operations.  The Storm Center is responsible for developing a storm plan for each individual storm event and collecting updated reports from each of the Division’s three regions and Division of State Parks and Recreation.  Regional staff will call in status reports by parkway routes and sidewalk reporting units to the Storm Center periodically. 

Upon establishing a Snow Emergency, DCR will notify the public via television and radio and establish a parking ban as early as possible.  SmartRoutes, State Police Troop H in South Boston and Troop A in Danvers are notified as well.  View the DCR Parkways that are designated as snow emergency routes.

Feedback for all areas cleared by DCR and Mass Highway should be routed as follows:

DCR Parkways Designated as

Snow Emergency Routes

List of All DCR

Parkways and Roadways in the Metro Boston Area