Buffalo to begin street-by-street snow removal operation Thursday; vehicles may be towed

The targeted areas include Kaisertown and South Buffalo.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- After another round of lake-effect snow blanketed the City of Buffalo, officials are beginning an operation Thursday night to fully clear the streets of the hardest hit areas -- and it may lead to some vehicles being towed free of charge.

The effort will look to fully clear streets curb-to-curb beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday into Friday in areas such as Kaisertown, Old First Ward and South Buffalo. The process will involve the Buffalo Parking Department towing vehicles on snow-covered streets to a nearby area, which will allow Department of Public Works contractors to clear each road. The towed vehicles will then be returned to their original location for free.

If a vehicle towed due to snow removal cannot be returned to its original street, residents can call 716-851-4415 to find out where the vehicle was towed. In this event, the towing would also be free of charge.

"The operation is geared at clearing the streets, getting that amount of snow off the streets," DPW Commissioner Nate Marton said Thursday. "We've got to get it out now to prepare ourselves for the rest of winter."

Buffalo police officers will assist in the snow removal process by blocking off streets that are being worked on to prevent vehicles from interfering. If a resident living on a blocked-off street is attempting to get to their home, they will have to park their car elsewhere and walk down sidewalks until the snow-clearing process is complete.

Residents are asked not to run into the street if they see their cars being towed. DPW supervisors will be on hand for the snow removal process and can be flagged down to answer questions.

"I just ask for compliance with the police officers, follow their direction and don't get in the way of the equipment," Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said. "We appreciate everybody's cooperation. This is going to go as smooth as we can possibly make it."

"Try and be patient," Buffalo Common Council president Chris Scanlon said. "We're going to continue to move these cars around, move the snow out and get back to business as usual as soon as possible."

Outside of South Buffalo, Kaisertown, Lovejoy and Old First Ward, officials will be enforcing parking normally. In addition, residents using city parking lots and ramps that were opened due to the storm are asked to move their vehicles by 12 p.m. Saturday.