Baker: Blizzard Agencies Get an ‘A,’ Clearing Sidewalks Is Next Challenge
At a press conference Wednesday morning, Gov. Charlie Baker praised the efforts of agencies that dealt with snow removal and road safety, and looked forward to today’s challenges—namely, clearing sidewalks.
“We have a ton of work to do on sidewalks,’’ Baker said.
Incoming Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack also spoke, noting that people walking on streets because sidewalks are still unshoveled is “a huge danger.’’ She asked residents and businesses across the state to help each other clear sidewalks.
Officials noted that other post-storm concerns included what to do with all of the plowed snow, as well as how to deal with the cold when it comes to public transportation.
Pollack said that more cold-related MBTA delays could be expected.
“The cold is really a challenge for our system, as everyone knows,’’ she said. “We’re seeing a lot of equipment malfunctions. We’re seeing a lot of switches freezing.’’
With regard to the commuter rail, Pollack said she expected Keolis, the company that runs it for the MBTA, to improve the service for the rest of the day.
“They signed on to a no-excuses contract, and we are going to be looking for a better performance this afternoon,’’ Pollack said.
Baker said that he and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito were impressed with all blizzard-involved agencies’ “professionalism, collaboration, and ability to scramble.’’
“Despite the fact that we had record-breaking snowfall in many parts of Massachusetts, we’ve come out of this, I think, in relatively good shape,’’ Baker said. “I am going to give everybody involved an ‘A’ on this one.’’
Baker also said that Tuesday’s statewide travel ban was the source of much debate. Though he said he has “no regrets’’ and thinks the right choice was made, the governor would like the ban to remain a last resort in snow emergencies.
“I do not want the travel ban to become the first lever everybody pulls when there’s a snowstorm,’’ he said.
Before concluding the press conference, the governor also noted that there were no fatalities yet reported in connection with the blizzard.
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