Massachusetts statewide travel ban effective at midnight

image_pdfimage_print

UPDATE (January 27, 2015 12:34 PM): Governor Charlie Baker has announced that the statewide travel ban has been lifted for Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties for local and I-91 traffic only, effective immediately. The travel ban remains in effect for the entire length of the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate 90, and for Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester Counties with only essential workers, healthcare and human service professionals and others specifically exempted, permitted to travel. The travel ban will be lifted based on road conditions and the advice of emergency response officials.

Governor Baker has signed an Executive Order allowing for the enforcement of a statewide travel ban effective at midnight. The following exceptions shall exist for the ban and all drivers are encouraged to remain safe and use their best judgment:

  • Essential emergency response professionals
  • Medical, healthcare and human service workers, including shelter personnel
  • Essential public transit and support workers
  • Public and private personnel supporting public works and utility operations
  • Essential state employees
  • Those traveling for essential medical procedures
  • Vehicles and personnel delivering essential supplies to healthcare facilities.

The travel ban will be lifted on a county by county basis as conditions allow, and exemptions to the travel ban are as follows:

  • Public safety vehicles, sworn and civilian public safety personnel, including those providing services at correctional facilities, and private sector security personnel
  • Public works vehicles and public works personnel, including contract personnel supporting public works operations
  • Public transportation vehicles and public transportation personnel, including contract personnel supporting public transportation operations
  • Government personnel conducting official business
  • Utility company vehicles and personnel, including contract personnel supporting utility response and restoration efforts
    Personnel directly supporting storm response operations, including but not limited to emergency shelter personnel
  • Personnel supporting human services facilities, including but not limited to residential housing programs and human services shelter operations
  • Healthcare personnel, including home healthcare personnel and personal care assistants
  • Personnel delivering or supporting services at healthcare facilities, including those that provide long term care and mental health care, as well as hospitals and other healthcare facilities
  • Vehicles and personnel providing critical supplies to healthcare facilities, including those that provide long term care and mental health care, as well as hospitals and other healthcare facilities
  • News media
  • Private sector snow removal equipment engaged in, or traveling in connection with the removal or clearance of snow and ice from public or private sector facilities
  • Patients traveling for the purpose of receiving urgent critical care, and persons traveling with those patients who are necessary to facilitate that urgent critical care
  • Travel necessary to maintain critical private sector facilities, services and operations, and to deliver or support critical private sector services and supplies in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, fuel, financial systems, and the provision of critical commodities
  • Travel to support business operations that provide critical services to the public, including gasoline stations, pharmacies, food stores and hardware stores

About Michael Silvia

Served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Owner of New Bedford Guide.

Check Also

Massachusetts State Police seize 4.5 kilos of cocaine, arrest 52-year old, in early morning raid

“A joint investigation earlier today resulted in the seizure of more than four kilograms of …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Translate »