Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Schools are again closed Wednesday, shifting to remote learning, following Monday's heavy snow storm and allowing city crews to continue clearing some streets that remain clogged after the more than foot-and-a-half snowfall.
In a WBEN LiveLine interview early Wednesday, Buffalo Public Works Commissioner Michael Finn said, "We're continuing to do the best we can."
Finn was speaking as he toured city streets to assess the ongoing snow clearing efforts. It is hoped that every city street will see at least one pass by a city plow by sometime this morning, said Finn.
Buffalo plans its attack on snow based on an average ten inch snowfall and Monday's storm nearly doubled that according to Finn and it amplifies the usual problems the city deals with in clearing snow from narrow side streets.
Finn says it's unfair to compare city snow clearing efforts with that of suburbs where on street parking is often not an issue. One vehicle parked on the wrong side of a street or stuck in the middle of the road can delay the city snow clearing effort for an entire street. "We're not able to clear curb to curb like many of the suburbs can," said Finn.
Streets officials consulted with school leaders last night before the district made the determination to shift to remote learning and keep more traffic off city streets.
Both Erie County and New York State snow removal equipment was utilized during the storm to help keep main and secondary streets clear in the city, allowing city equipment to shift to neighborhoods more quickly.
"We've made a lot of good progress this morning."
