Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Journal photo / Bob Thayer
Jim Beller, doorman at The Providence Hotel on Mathewson Street, tips his hat to a passerby as he shovels out the front entrance today. The snow just kept coming, and Beller just kept on shovelling.

Providence has not instituted a parking ban today, despite the snow.

Several other cities and towns have posted parking bans already.

But Peter Gaynor, Providence's emergency management director, said officials did not want to shut down the city if they did not have to given that it is not a typical work-week day. Schools are off, traffic is light, some people are having reduced work hours and the latest forecast calls for less snow of 3 to 4 inches' accumulation, he said.

Gaynor said the snow is forecast to taper off around 4 p.m. to something lighter. However, he said the cold temperatures mean roads may need more attention into the evening, when New Year's Eve revelers turn out.

"Police and DPW are monitoring the situation, so if anything changes," the city can make adjustments, he said.

Gaynor said police are posted at some of the locations where car traffic is common. He emphasized that drivers should take it easy and be safe.

"We wanted to ensure that the roads were safe and that the publci was welcome into the city before Bright Night tonight and other events," including a scheduled Providence College Friars game at 4 p.m., he said.

Organizers have said that Bright Night festivities, which include a laser light show at midnight, will go on despite the snow. Ditto for the Friars' game; it's a go, no matter what.

Click here for information on closings, cancellations and parking bans around our region.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal sportswriter Kevin McNamara

 Tags  Providence

Comments

You know what happens when you ASSUME said:

Unfortunately, you just can't fully trust the information on the parking ban link given.

During the last storm Providence did not list their parking ban along with all of the other towns and cities under "RI Police"; they listed it under "Government". There is no parking ban currently listed, but do you think it wise to risk a $100 ticket?

Yesterday the site said that Pawtucket had a parking ban starting at noon. Now the site lists no ban, but a quick call to the police station indicates that the ban is still on.

Link | December 31, 2008 4:35 PM
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