By Tiffany Williams –
BOSTON — Maura Healey is lifting the travel ban at noon Tuesday for Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable and Dukes counties, dialing back one of the most sweeping restrictions imposed during the latest winter blast as recovery efforts grind on across eastern Massachusetts.
Residents are still being told to stay off the roads if they can.
“While we are lifting the travel ban, the state of emergency remains in effect for some counties, and we urge people to continue using caution and stay home today if possible to allow crews to do their work,” said Governor Healey. “Our teams continue to be out in full force to support cities and towns after this storm, providing equipment and personnel to help with snow removal and other efforts. We know that there are still many households without power, and the utilities are working hard to assess damage and restore power as quickly and safely as possible. We thank the people of Massachusetts for their patience and caution while we work to get back to normal, and we are especially grateful for all of the workers who continue to be out here around the clock to deliver for our communities.”
The state of emergency remains in effect for all counties except Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin. Several hard-hit cities — including New Bedford, Fall River and Brockton — continue to enforce local travel restrictions and parking bans.
As of 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, approximately 251,000 customers remained without power, down from 290,000 a day earlier. The outages are concentrated on Cape Cod and in Southeastern Massachusetts. Crews are restoring service town by town, assessing damage before repairs can begin. Officials say snow removal and clearing fallen trees remain major hurdles before power lines can be fixed safely.
The State Emergency Operations Center, along with MEMA’s Eastern Regional Emergency Operations Center and the Barnstable County Emergency Operations Center, remain active. MEMA local coordinators are contacting every city and town in the eastern region to assess needs and deploy resources. More than 90 requests for assistance have been received, most tied to Massachusetts National Guard support and public works and snow-clearing equipment. At the governor’s direction, out-of-state mutual aid has been requested, and snow removal crews and equipment from Vermont arrived Tuesday morning.
Up to 350 members of the Massachusetts National Guard were activated to support storm recovery. Initial missions focused on high water rescue and mobility assistance in support of civilian agencies. As conditions improve, service members are shifting to snow and debris removal and route clearance operations, with Military Police, Engineer and Transportation units helping restore access across affected communities.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation deployed approximately 3,000 pieces of equipment statewide during the storm. Equipment was redeployed Monday afternoon and evening to the South Coast as municipalities grappled with extraordinary snowfall totals. Cleanup operations will continue throughout the week on interstates and local roads. Motorists are warned to expect snow removal equipment and allow extra travel time, especially near intersections, ramps and shoulders.
RMV customer service centers are open, but all road tests have been postponed. Customers with prescheduled appointments have been contacted regarding their visits. The agency is directing residents to mass.gov/RMV and its social media accounts for updates.
Public transit remains limited. The MBTA is operating subway trains and buses at reduced levels similar to Sunday schedules. The Mattapan Line remains suspended and replaced with shuttle buses. All Commuter Rail lines are running on reduced storm schedules. Ferry service in Charlestown and between Hingham and Hull resumed Tuesday with a modified schedule. Regular RIDE paratransit service is set to resume Wednesday.
Transit officials are urging riders to check the MBTA Go App and T-Alerts for updated arrival times and service changes as cleanup continues around the clock.
Air travel is slowly rebounding. Flights resumed at Boston Logan International Airport and Worcester Regional Airport, though delays are expected due to airfield cleanup and airlines repositioning crews and aircraft. Passengers are being advised to check with their airlines before heading to the airport and to allow extra travel time.
The Department of Public Utilities remains in close contact with electric distribution companies as line crews push to restore power. Officials say emergency and safety operations come first as crews assess damage and work to access downed lines. Restoration numbers may fluctuate if lines must be deenergized for repairs.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is plowing primary roadways, parkways and designated sidewalks near schools, while forestry crews monitor tree damage statewide. Parking bans remain in effect on many DCR- and MassDOT-managed roadways, aligned with municipal restrictions. Vehicles parked during active snow emergencies face ticketing and towing. Agency-managed recreation facilities, including visitor centers, the Melnea A. Cass Recreation Center and state-operated skating rinks in Boston, remain closed through Tuesday.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is directing municipalities and businesses to its snow disposal guidance as communities deal with excessive accumulation. Local conservation commissions may issue emergency certifications under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act if upland snow disposal capacity is exhausted.
State officials say cleanup and recovery will continue throughout the week, even as the travel ban eases in much of southeastern Massachusetts. The message from Beacon Hill is blunt: the worst of the storm may be over, but the work is far from finished.