Boston City Council Pushes for Snow Melters, Volunteer Program Amid Storm Cleanup
Since last month’s snowstorm dropped nearly two feet of snow on Boston, the Boston City Council has been fielding a deluge of public complaints about snow removal. City Council members are now pushing Boston Mayor…
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 26: A person clears a driveway with a snowblower following a major storm on January 26, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. A massive winter storm brought frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to millions of Americans across the nation. The storm has left at least 10 people dead and hundreds of thousands without power. The Boston area got over a foot of snow. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
Since last month's snowstorm dropped nearly two feet of snow on Boston, the Boston City Council has been fielding a deluge of public complaints about snow removal. City Council members are now pushing Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and her administration to develop new snow removal strategies, including a volunteer “snow corps” and the purchase of snow-melting machines to speed cleanup.
At a City Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 4, three separate snow removal hearing orders were introduced with broad support. Councilor Ed Flynn was one of the lead supporters who pressed Wu and Interim Chief of Streets Nick Gove about storm-recovery resources.
“Our public works team did well; however, I don't think they were supported here at City Hall. I don't think they had the resources and the support at City Hall to effectively manage this storm,” Flynn said during the meeting in comments recorded by Boston.com. “We're not blaming anybody, but we know that there's major improvement that has to take place.”
State Sen. Nick Collins took it upon himself to contact agencies to assist with addressing transportation and public safety issues tied to snow removal and the storm's aftermath.
Wu acknowledged prior use of a snow melter, but she warned about high costs and maintenance. She suggested that melters may only be practical if such events become frequent and stressed the cost, practicality, and emergency readiness associated with them.
Councilor Brian Worrell suggested a “snow corps” group of volunteers. He said cities such as Chicago and Baltimore have programs that match volunteers with older adults and people with disabilities who need help shoveling snow. Worrell said these ideas could be implemented in Boston. He also said that the city could hire temporary seasonal workers to shovel and sand key areas of city streets and sidewalks.
The late January storm ranks among the top eight all-time in Boston. It has disrupted transportation networks, including the Commuter Rail and the Red Line. Space savers have since returned to streets across the city. Boston.com also reported that an argument over a shoveled-out parking space led to an act of violence in Dorchester.
