Thoughts on a snowstorm
s this week's snow storm moved in, the town did what it always does under winter weather: main roads were salted and plowed first, and many secondary and neighborhood streets were left untreated for much longer. This approach makes sense in an emergency—but it also highlights the trade-offs we’ve quietly accepted about access, mobility, and safety.
What was happening on the ground
Major corridors stayed mostly passable. Buses, emergency vehicles, and commuters relying on those routes benefited from quick action. Meanwhile, many residential streets iced over, limiting travel for residents who still needed to get to work, check on neighbors, or reach medical appointments. For some households, especially those on hills or narrow streets, the difference can often feel stark.
Why this matters to residents
Infrastructure isn’t just about asphalt and salt, it’s about who can move, when, and under what conditions. When storms hit, residents on secondary roads often experience longer disruptions, even though they pay the same taxes and rely on the same public systems. Over time, these moments shape how people experience equity, safety, and trust in local government.
What I’m thinking about
I don’t see this as a failure so much as a reflection of limited resources and clear priorities. The question isn’t whether we should protect main roads, we should, but whether our current approach reflects the needs of a growing, aging, and diversifying town. Climate variability means winter weather events may remain rare but disruptive (for now). That makes planning, communication, and expectation-setting even more important.
Questions I’m still asking
- How does the town decide which secondary roads receive treatment first, if at all?
- Are there low-cost ways to better support residents on untreated streets during storms?
- How do other similar-sized towns balance main-road access with neighborhood safety?
- What role should climate resilience planning play in future infrastructure budgets?
- How clearly are winter response priorities communicated to residents ahead of storms?
Moments like this don’t just test our roads—they test how well our systems align with everyday life.
