Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Following a groundswell of complaints and response from residents since the snow storm earlier this month saying they want their streets open more quickly, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says city streets crews are changing their strategy this time around.
As steady snow fell across the city Thursday, again challenging city public works crews to clear streets of snow, Mayor Brown told reporters inside the Broadway Market that residents have spoken and changes have been made.
"We are opening up streets more quickly," said Brown. "When there are vehicles that are violating the alternate street parking , we are towing and ticketing those vehicles." As of late in the day Thursday, Brown reported about 50 vehicles that had been towed. The mayor also is encouraged by increased compliance with the important alternate parking rules that allow city streets crews access to streets to properly clear the snow.
Following the storm that saw nearly two feet of snow fall on Buffalo in January, there has been significant criticism that many streets went days before seeing a plow. Buffalo Schools were forced to close for two days following the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday as a result of the storm.
The Buffalo Common Council this week invited Finn to a committee meeting to review the last storm and discuss ways to improve snow removal in the city.
Public Works Commissioner Michael Finn says he hopes the city's snow plan can be followed and that nearly all city streets would be plowed at least once within 24 hours after the snow stops falling.
Why has there been an increased frustration among city residents concerning snow removal this season? WBEN posed the question to Mayor Brown and he responded by saying, "It's a partnership."
"There were literally thousands, thousands of vehicles that were parked illegally, making it difficult or impossible to get down some residential streets." Brown said city crews went door to door during the previous storm to engage with residents and get vehicles moved without ticketing and towing.
Brown said the message from city residents following the storm was clear; "Don't give people a break." The mayor says residents want vehicles removed from streets if they are blocking snow removal efforts. "So that's what we're doing," said Brown.
Many Buffalo streets were designed long before motor vehicle traffic was the norm, said Finn. "Horse and buggy streets," is how Finn described a number of narrow streets in the city where residential plowing and snow clearing begins when main and secondary roadways are cleared. "They were built before cars were even conceived," said Finn. "Many houses on those streets don't have driveways."
If the storm ends as forecast and the snow stops midday Friday, the clock will begin to tick as residents, no doubt, will wait to see if a plow makes a pass down their street within 24 hours, or midday Saturday.
If not, the phones will likely be ringing in city hall again.
