The Pothole Cometh

Even after all the snow melts away, the city will face two lingering effects of our record-setting winter: A costly pothole season and a half-million-dollar hit to parking meter revenue.

City officials spoke last week about those companion problems, both of which are caused by a season of unprecedented winter precipitation. All the snow and ice have led to a “freeze-thaw” cycle that’s creating new and bigger holes on the city’s asphalt streets. It could mean an expensive pothole season is on the horizon, said Howard Weissberg, deputy public works director.

Meanwhile, the mounds of snow occupying downtown have led to fewer people driving into town, and fewer parking spaces available to those who do. That means fewer quarters collected and fewer parking tickets handed out, according to Jim Travers, acting head of the traffic and parking department.

Travers said the city is seeing a $500,000 reduction in meter and ticket revenue so far over last fiscal year.

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