How Much Did Newton Spend on Snow Removal This Winter?

The city received a total of 73.8 inches of snow this winter, city officials said.

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How Much Did Newton Spend on Snow Removal This Winter?

The largest amount of the city's snow/ice budget went toward contractors hired to help clear the streets.

With temperatures forecasted to be in the 50s this weekend, it seems as though the city is out of the woods when it comes to snow/ice removal for this fiscal year -- knock on wood. So, how much did the city spend for the winter of 2012-2013? According to Chief Operating Officer Bob Rooney, Newton spent $3.975 million on snow and ice removal this winter.  Roughly 46 percent of that amount was spent on contractors hired to help clear streets and sidewalks in the city, Rooney said. While the city owns around 75 trucks and plows, contractors are needed to help supplement the city crews' work. Each storm, the snow removal crews in Newton are split almost 50/50 between contractors and the city's own, in-house workers, Rooney said.  Another large…

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Despite Uncertain Forecast, Newton DPW Crews Prepping for Weekend Storm

The city of Newton spent roughly $1.6 million on the Blizzard of 2013 -- but winter is not over yet.

Although the forecast is still a toss-up, Newton public works crews are still prepping for this weekend's potential snow storm. "We are getting ready for it and getting equipment ready," said Department of Public Works Commissioner Dave Turocy. "We've taken the last two weeks to recover from the big blizzard and this week we've been able to replenish our salt and fuel supplies."  As of Friday morning, forecasters are predicting anywhere between 3 inches to 12 inches, depending on where a snow/rain line falls. Most meteorologists are putting that line at the Mass Pike, with communities north of the highway receiving 6 to 12 inches. The city of Boston and communities south of the Pike are expected to get 3 to 6 inches. Although several of …

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Newton Blizzard Cleanup: Where Does the Snow Go?

Chief Operating Officer Robert Rooney explains where DPW crews dump the snow.

One week after the Blizzard of 2013 hit the Northeast, many cities, including Newton, still have some cleaning up to do. But once the Newton DPW crews plow streets, shovel out sidewalks and clear parking lots, where does all the snow go? Chief Operating Officer Robert Rooney explained to Newton Patch this week that there are currently six snow dumping sites in Newton, which are spread out across the city to allow easier removal and transport.  The snow dumping sites include the Elliot Street DPW yard, Rumford Avenue Landfill, Newton Centre Playground, Auburndale Cove parking lot, Nahanton Park parking lot and a small area near Lowell Avenue and Austin Street.  Once the snow is relocated to the dumping sites, the melting process begins. In …

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Choo Choo

11:54 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Why can't the city also use the greensward running the length of Comm Ave? It used to be an old trolley car line, anyway.   more ›