Guide to Snowstorms for Residents and Business Owners
The following is a summary of relevant information for residents and business owners in the event of a snowstorm and is in accordance with the City of New Bedford Code of Ordinances and the Policies and Procedures of the Department of Public Infrastructure.
Overview of the Department of Public Infrastructure’s Snow and Ice Control Procedures:
When a “full snow emergency” is declared by the Commissioner of Public Infrastructure, personnel and equipment are activated to conduct snow removal operations.
The City of New Bedford has a variety of vehicles and equipment available to treat icy roads and to plow snow including: one hundred and twenty (120) plow trucks ranging in size from large ten-wheel dump trucks to 4×4 pickup trucks, and sixteen (16) pieces of heavy equipment are available for mobilization in the event of a large storm or blizzard.
Employees and equipment are dispatched to conduct snow removal on road within their assigned routes. Main streets, hospital routes and bus routes are first priority and then secondary roadways including side streets etc. will be addressed.
New Bedford Private Property Owner’s Responsibility to Clear Snow From Abutting Sidewalks
- The City of New Bedford Code of Ordinances requires private property owners (or occupants) to remove snow from public sidewalks abutting their property within a reasonable about of time after the snow has stopped falling. Violations of this ordinance are subject to a $50.00 fine. For the full text of the relevant City Ordinance, see City of New Bedford Code of Ordinances Sec. 22-15. – Snow and ice—Removal from sidewalks; required and City of New Bedford Code of Ordinances Sec. 17-18. – Noncriminal disposition of violations of certain ordinances, rules and regulations.)
No One May Shovel or Plow Snow or Ice onto City Streets
- The City of New Bedford Code of Ordinances prohibits anyone from placing snow or ice onto the public roadways. Violations of this ordinance are subject to a $50.00 fine. For the full text of the relevant City Ordinance, see City of New Bedford Code of Ordinances Sec. 22-15. – Snow and ice—Removal from sidewalks; required and City of New Bedford Code of Ordinances Sec. 17-18. – Noncriminal disposition of violations of certain ordinances, rules and regulations.)
Declaration of a Snow Emergency Parking Ban
When will a parking ban be declared?
When the forecast calls for significant snowfall and the Commissioner of Public Infrastructure determines that the storm will require more than normal operations, he declares a full snow emergency and requests that the Mayor implement a snow emergency parking ban.
How can I find out whether a parking ban is in effect?
The announcement of a snow emergency parking ban is made via local media (print, radio, television and online). The information will also be posted to the City of New Bedford website, New Bedford Cable Access, and the City of New Bedford social media accounts.
What are the rules for on street parking during a snow emergency parking ban?
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 allow 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 Park Bank Areas Being Expanded
To increase public safety during storm events, as of January 2016, the areas designated for a double-sided parking ban have been 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 of Double-Sided Parking Ban Areas)
What are the consequences for violating the parking ban regulations?
Violations of the snow emergency parking regulations 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.
Are there public lots available where I may park my motor vehicle during a parking ban?
The City of New Bedford has designated the following areas as preferred parking areas for those residents in need of free, 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
New Bedford Public Schools Delayed Opening and/or Closure Announcement
Announcements regarding the status of New Bedford Public Schools are made through the office of the Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools. The public is encouraged to monitor the New Bedford Public Schools website www.newbedfordschools.org and the NBPS social media accounts as well as local radio stations (WBSM AM 1420 and WFHN FUN 107 FM), local television stations (Providence and Boston stations) and the New Bedford Standard Times for information regarding school cancellations and delays.
Important Emergency Contact Numbers
- To report a downed power line, medical, fire or other emergencies please dial 911.
- To report a power outage to NSTAR 1-800-592-2000
- To report snow removal issues on city streets 508-991-6150 or email at stormcentral@newbedford-ma.gov
- New Bedford Police Department’s Non-Emergency Line 508-991-6300
Sand Barrel 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
