City of New Bedford prepares for blizzard on Thursday, Jan. 4

The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for Southeastern Massachusetts including Bristol County and New Bedford in effect from 1:00 a.m. on Thursday morning to 1:00 a.m. on Friday morning. The National Weather Service predicts blizzard conditions, making travel during the storm very dangerous. Total snow accumulations of 7 to 10 inches, with localized amounts up to 14 inches, are currently expected. Winds gusting as high as 60 to 70 miles per hour at times will cause whiteout conditions in blowing snow, and power outages are possible.

Citywide Snow Emergency Parking Ban Effective 12 midnight tonight

In preparation for the approaching snowstorm, the City of New Bedford has announced a citywide snow emergency parking ban to take effect at 12 midnight tonight. The parking ban will be strictly enforced and will remain in effect for 48-hours thereafter, unless lifted or further extended by City officials. The parking ban is designed to allow City workers to efficiently remove snow from New Bedford roadways to permit public safety vehicles and residents to travel safely.

While the snow emergency parking ban is in effect, parking is permitted on the north side of all streets going east and west, and is permitted on the east side of all streets going north and south. The permitted side of the street is typically the side opposite of the fire hydrants.

Please note that on streets which are normally posted for parking on one side of the street only, residents are to obey the signs as usual.

Vehicles should never be parked within ten (10) feet of a fire hydrant or twenty (20) feet from a corner as required by law, regardless of whether a snow ban is in effect, or not.

Double-sided Parking Ban Areas
To increase public safety during storm events, two years ago the areas designated for a double-sided parking ban were expanded to include sections of five new streets (listed below), in addition to the Downtown and Acushnet Avenue Business Districts where a double-sided ban has been in place in years past.

The new street sections were selected because they are major routes for ambulances, school buses, and SRTA buses, and have a history of large vehicles being unable to successfully navigate due to the narrowness of the street.

During a snow emergency parking ban, no parking is therefore permitted on either side of the street in the following areas:

Downtown Business District: Downtown New Bedford between Walnut Street northerly to the Octopus and County Street easterly to JFK Boulevard
Acushnet Avenue Business District: Acushnet Avenue, Coggeshall Street to Tarkiln Hill Road
Ashley Boulevard (from Nash Road to Coggeshall Street)
County Street (from Union Street to Sawyer Street)
Kempton Street (from Rockdale Avenue to Pleasant Street)
Mill Street (from Rockdale Avenue to Pleasant Street)
Cottage Street (Union Street to Durfee Street)
Map and information on parking bans are available at: http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/traffic/snow-bans/

Violations of the snow emergency parking ban will be subject to ticketing at $50 per ticket and towing at full cost to the owner of the vehicle towed. The vehicle owner is also responsible for the full cost of storage for any towed vehicle.

The City of New Bedford has designated the following areas as preferred parking areas for those residents in need of off-street parking while the emergency snow parking ban is in effect:

Victory Park – Brock Avenue
Hazelwood Park – Brock Avenue
Cove Street Parking Lot – Cove Street and Morton Court
Orchard Street at Camara Soccer Field
Buttonwood Park Parking Area – Hawthorn Street Side and Lake Street Side
Former St. Mary’s Home – Entrance on Mill Street
Coggeshall Street Parking Lot – Coggeshall Street and Acushnet Avenue
Sawyer Street Parking Lot – Between Sawyer Street and Beetle Street
Brooklawn Park Parking Area – Brooklawn Street (South Side)
Riverside Park Lot – Coffin Avenue
Coffin Avenue Lot- Across from Taber Mills Apartments
Former AVX site on Belleville Avenue at Hadley Street
Former Philips Avenue School – 249 Phillips Avenue
Elm Street Garage
Zeiterion Garage – 688 Purchase Street
New Bedford High School – 230 Hathaway Boulevard
Keith Middle School – 225 Hathaway Boulevard
Normandin Middle School – 81 Felton Street
Roosevelt Middle School – 119 Fredrick Street
Charles S Ashley Elementary School – 122 Rochambeau Street
Elizabeth Carter Brooks Elementary School – 212 Nemasket Street
Elwyn G Campbell Elementary School – 145 Essex Street
Sgt Wm H Carney Academy Elementary School – 247 Elm Street
Lot at intersection of Elm and Cottage (Southeast Corner)
James B Congdon Elementary School – 50 Hemlock Street
John B DeValles Elementary School – 120 Katherine Street
Alfred J Gomes Elementary School – 286 South Second Street
Ellen R Hathaway Elementary School – 256 Court Street
Hayden/McFadden Elementary School – 361 Cedar Grove Street
Horatio A Kempton Elementary School – 135 Shawmut Avenue
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School – 445 Ashley Boulevard
Carlos Pacheco Elementary School – 261 Mt. Pleasant Street
John Avery Parker Elementary School – 705 County Street
Casmir Pulaski Elementary School – 1097 Braley Road
Thomas R Rodman Elementary School – 497 Mill Street
William H Taylor Elementary School – 620 Brock Avenue
SEA LAB/John Hannigan Elementary School – 91 Portland Street
Jireh Swift Elementary School – 2203 Acushnet Avenue
Betsey B Winslow Elementary School – 561 Allen Street
Sand Available to City Residents at Various Locations

The Department of Public Infrastructure has made sand available to city residents at many locations throughout the city. Residents are advised to bring their own small container to collect the sand at any of the following locations:

Norfolk St & Acushnet Ave
Toby St & Acushnet Ave
Manila St & Acushnet Ave
Fire Station #5 –Acushnet Ave
Phillips Rd & Pine Hill Dr
Welby Rd, North Side, Between Two Buildings
Essex St & Phillips Rd, Campbell School
Saint Theresa’s Church – Acushnet Ave
Balls Corner, Mill Rd & Belleville Ave
Saint Mary’s School/Church –Illinois St
Tarkiln Hill Rd & Acushnet Ave
Police Station #3 – Ashley Blvd
Wilks Library –Acushnet Ave & Princeton St
Ashley Blvd & Princeton St
Belleville Rd & Hope St
Mount Pleasant St on Nash Rd Side (in place)
Fire Station –Davis St & Acushnet Ave
Deane St & Ashley Blvd
Bullard St & Acushnet Ave
Shawmut Diner, Between the Driveways
Acushnet Ave & Sawyer St
Sawyer St & Mount Pleasant St
Beetle St & North Front St
Beetle St & N. Front St
Coggeshall St & Ashley Blvd
Coggeshall & Purchase St
10 Kilburn St
Purchase St & Logan St
Rockdale Ave & Granit St
Linden St & County St, South Side of Linden St
Fire Station #7 –Durfee St & Cottage St
Durfee St & Shawmut Ave
Red Cross, Rockdale Ave & Durfee St
Purchase St & Wamsutta Ave
Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Studley St & Summer St, On West Side
Merrimac St & County St
1554 Purchase St, Fire Repair
Pleasant St & Pope St
Parker St & County St, East Side of County St
Parker St & Rockdale Ave
Pleasant St & Pearl St
Purchase St & Campbell St
Cottage St & Campbell St
Sycamore St & State St
County St & Sycamore St
Pleasant St, Rear Lot of Fire Prevention
Maxfield St & Pleasant St
E.M.T.S. Chancery St, Inside Parking Area
S.E.C. Summer St & Hillman St
Ash St & Hillman St
Fire Station #2 –Pleasant St
County St & North St
Pope’s Island Marina
Third District Court, North Side of Kempton St
Liberty St & Kempton St
Pleasant St & Middle St
South Sixth St & Middle St
County St & Middle St
Elm St Garage, On Acushnet Ave
Buttonwood Library
Pier 3 –Visitors Center
South Water & Hamilton St
William St & Acushnet Ave, Custom House Square
City Hall, Pleasant St Side
Centre St & Front St
Market St & Sixth St
Second St & Union St
Union St & Acushnet Ave
Purchase St & Union St
Eighth St and Union St
County St & Union St
Spring St & Pleasant St
Zeiterion Garage, Acushnet Ave Entrance
School St & Purchase St
School St & Sixth St
School St & County St
Walnut St & Acushnet Ave
Maple St & Atlantic St
Maple St & Reed St
Madison St & County St
Fire Museum, Bedford St & Sixth St
Page St & Bedford St
Wing St & Acushnet Ave
Wing St & County St
Fair St & County St
Fire Station #6, Purchase St
Thompson St & Crapo St
County St & Rivet St
Bonney St & Rivet St
Bolton St & Rivet St
Delano St & South First St
Jouvette St & Bonney St
Howland Green Library, Driveway, Rodney French Blvd
Rockdale Ave & Dartmouth St
Fire Station #11, Brock Ave & Mott St
Willard St & West Rodney French Blvd
Clegg Field, Brock Ave
Brock Ave & Portland St
Wastewater Treatment Plant, Community Center
South Rodney French Blvd, Cable Access Building

New Bedford Public Schools – closed Thursday, January 4, 2018

All New Bedford Public Schools and administrative offices will be closed on Thursday, January 4, 2018. Please monitor local media and the New Bedford Public Schools website, www.newbedfordschools.org, for updates.

New Bedford City Offices – Closed Thursday, January 4, 2018

City offices will be closed Thursday, January 4, 2018 including City Hall, the public libraries, senior centers and the Buttonwood Park Zoo. Only City employees designated as essential should report to work.

Delay in Residential Trash Collection

There will be no residential trash collection on Thursday, January 4, 2018. Due to the combination of the recent New Year’s Day holiday and the Thursday storm, the remaining trash collection this week by ABC Disposal will take place on a two-day delay, as follows:

If your trash is normally collected on Thursday it will be collected on Saturday; if your trash is normally collected on Friday it will be collected on Sunday.

SRTA Services

Given current weather forecasts, the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority plans to operate its routes as conditions allow on Thursday. If service is suspended due to weather conditions, SRTA will make that announcement. Riders should call (508) 999-5211 for information about the status of SRTA services. For more details visit www.srtabus.com.

Sister Rose House to be open for residents in need of shelter

The Sister Rose House (75 Division Street) will remain open for unsheltered residents. For more information, Sister Rose House’s phone number is (508) 997-3202.

Sand Available to City Residents at Various Locations

The Department of Public Infrastructure has made sand available to city residents at many locations throughout the city. Residents are advised to bring their own small container to collect the sand at any of the following locations:

1. Norfolk St & Acushnet Ave
2. Toby St & Acushnet Ave
3. Manila St & Acushnet Ave
4. Fire Station #5 –Acushnet Ave
5. Phillips Rd & Pine Hill Dr
6. Welby Rd, North Side, Between Two Buildings
7. Essex St & Phillips Rd, Campbell School
8. Saint Theresa’s Church – Acushnet Ave
9. Balls Corner, Mill Rd & Belleville Ave
10. Saint Mary’s School/Church –Illinois St
11. Tarkiln Hill Rd & Acushnet Ave
12. Police Station #3 – Ashley Blvd
13. Wilks Library –Acushnet Ave & Princeton St
14. Ashley Blvd & Princeton St
15. Belleville Rd & Hope St
16. Mount Pleasant St on Nash Rd Side (in place)
17. Fire Station –Davis St & Acushnet Ave
18. Deane St & Ashley Blvd
19. Bullard St & Acushnet Ave
20. Shawmut Diner, Between the Driveways
21. Acushnet Ave & Sawyer St
22. Sawyer St & Mount Pleasant St
23. Beetle St & North Front St
24. Beetle St & N. Front St
25. Coggeshall St & Ashley Blvd
26. Coggeshall & Purchase St
27. 10 Kilburn St
28. Purchase St & Logan St
29. Rockdale Ave & Granit St
30. Linden St & County St, South Side of Linden St
31. Fire Station #7 –Durfee St & Cottage St
32. Durfee St & Shawmut Ave
33. Red Cross, Rockdale Ave & Durfee St
34. Purchase St & Wamsutta Ave
35. Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Studley St & Summer St, On West Side
36. Merrimac St & County St
37. 1554 Purchase St, Fire Repair
38. Pleasant St & Pope St
39. Parker St & County St, East Side of County St
40. Parker St & Rockdale Ave
41. Pleasant St & Pearl St
42. Purchase St & Campbell St
43. Cottage St & Campbell St
44. Sycamore St & State St
45. County St & Sycamore St
46. Pleasant St, Rear Lot of Fire Prevention
47. Maxfield St & Pleasant St
48. E.M.T.S. Chancery St, Inside Parking Area
49. S.E.C. Summer St & Hillman St
50. Ash St & Hillman St
51. Fire Station #2 –Pleasant St
52. County St & North St
53. Pope’s Island Marina
54. Third District Court, North Side of Kempton St
55. Liberty St & Kempton St
56. Pleasant St & Middle St
57. South Sixth St & Middle St
58. County St & Middle St
59. Elm St Garage, On Acushnet Ave
60. Buttonwood Library
61. Pier 3 –Visitors Center
62. South Water & Hamilton St
63. William St & Acushnet Ave, Custom House Square
64. City Hall, Pleasant St Side
65. Centre St & Front St
66. Market St & Sixth St
67. Second St & Union St
68. Union St & Acushnet Ave
69. Purchase St & Union St
70. Eighth St and Union St
71. County St & Union St
72. Spring St & Pleasant St
73. Zeiterion Garage, Acushnet Ave Entrance
74. School St & Purchase St
75. School St & Sixth St
76. School St & County St
77. Walnut St & Acushnet Ave
78. Maple St & Atlantic St
79. Maple St & Reed St
80. Madison St & County St
81. Fire Museum, Bedford St & Sixth St
82. Page St & Bedford St
83. Wing St & Acushnet Ave
84. Wing St & County St
85. Fair St & County St
86. Fire Station #6, Purchase St
87. Thompson St & Crapo St
88. County St & Rivet St
89. Bonney St & Rivet St
90. Bolton St & Rivet St
91. Delano St & South First St
92. Jouvette St & Bonney St
93. Howland Green Library, Driveway, Rodney French Blvd
94. Rockdale Ave & Dartmouth St
95. Fire Station #11, Brock Ave & Mott St
96. Willard St & West Rodney French Blvd
97. Clegg Field, Brock Ave
98. Brock Ave & Portland St
99. Wastewater Treatment Plant, Community Center
100.South Rodney French Blvd, Cable Access Building

Winter Weather Preparedness Tips for Residents and Business Owners

Residents and business owners are advised to review the Winter Weather Tips available on the

City webpage http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/emergency-management/winter-storms/ and to

take proactive steps to prepare for the major winter storm.

Given the recent cold temperatures, leaving a faucet running lightly to keep water flowing at home can help to limit the chance of freezing pipes.

Obeying the parking ban is key to emergency response as well as snow plows. Wide streets make it easier to navigate ambulance and fire apparatus in these types of conditions.

Important Emergency Contact Numbers

– To report a downed power line, gas leak, medical, fire or other emergencies please dial 911.

– Eversource is prepared to address damage and outages resulting from the storm and encourages customers whose electric service is affected to call 1-800-592-2000.

– To report snow removal issues on city streets, residents may contact the Department of

Public Infrastructure at (508) 991-6150.

– New Bedford Police Department may also be reached on its Non-emergency line at (508)

991-6350.

– Please visit the City’s website at www.newbedford-ma.gov for more information and

updates from the City of New Bedford regarding the snowstorm.