Boston lifts snow emergency parking ban as public schools reopen Wednesday after major winter storm
Parking restrictions end Tuesday evening; space-saver window set through Thursday
Boston lifted its snow emergency and citywide parking ban at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, as cleanup operations continued following a powerful winter storm that dropped roughly 15 inches of snow in the city over the prior 24 hours. City officials said residents who used participating discounted garages during the emergency had until 8 p.m. Tuesday to move their vehicles before regular rates resumed.
The end of the emergency also started the clock on Boston’s long-running “space saver” practice. City guidance set a 48-hour window after the snow emergency ends, meaning space savers should be removed by 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26. The practice remains prohibited at all times in the South End and Bay Village, and the Public Works Department may collect and discard items placed in violation of the rules.
Boston Public Schools to reopen Wednesday as streets and sidewalks are widened
Boston Public Schools are scheduled to reopen Wednesday, Feb. 25, after closing Tuesday to allow crews to clear sidewalks and widen main roadways for student travel and for the district’s bus fleet to operate safely. The additional closure was framed as an operational decision tied to street conditions and the time required to expand access along routes used by families and school transportation.
City officials said snow removal work would continue beyond the formal end of the emergency, with crews focused on narrowing hazards at intersections, clearing curb ramps, and managing accumulated snow along main corridors. Residents were also reminded that property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks to a passable path and that snow should not be shoveled or plowed into the street.
Services shift as the region continues to dig out
Boston’s curbside trash and recycling pickup is operating on a one-day delay across all neighborhoods this week, reflecting the disruption to normal collection routes and the need to prioritize snow operations.
The Boston Public Health Commission’s emergency shelters remained available around the clock during the cold-weather response, and residents were encouraged to request assistance for people who appeared at risk outdoors.
State travel restrictions targeted hardest-hit counties
At the height of the storm, Massachusetts imposed restrictions on non-essential travel in parts of southeastern Massachusetts, including Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, and Dukes counties, as conditions deteriorated and officials prioritized access for emergency response, plowing, and utility restoration. The storm produced widespread disruption across the Northeast, including canceled flights and extended local closures in multiple states.
- Parking ban ended: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24
- Discounted garage deadline: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24
- Schools reopen: Wednesday, Feb. 25
- Space savers must be removed by: 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 (where permitted)
- Trash and recycling: one-day delay citywide this week
Residents are urged to keep sidewalks and curb ramps clear and to report hazards such as downed trees or wires through city channels.