Lowell keeps parking ban through Thursday for downtown snow operation; residents urged not to push snow into streets

An unidentified city speaker announced that a parking ban in Lowell will remain in effect until 7 a.m. Thursday so crews can carry out a large overnight snow‑clearing operation concentrated downtown.

The speaker said the city plans to run an extensive snow operation Wednesday night focused on main streets and the downtown area and asked residents to avoid throwing or blowing snow back into roadways. "Please don't throw the snow back into the street," the speaker said, adding that such behavior "prolongs the process" and creates dangerous conditions for neighbors and crews.

The speaker recounted checking tight streets across the city over about 40 hours and emphasized the effect of snow pushed into streets: it re‑burdens crews and slows removal. The speaker referenced "assistant city manager, Commissioner St. Cyr" while stressing the public‑safety concern; the transcript presents that phrase verbatim and the titles/roles are not clarified in the recording.

The speaker also said that more than 200 vehicles had been towed during enforcement efforts; the transcript reads "there were over 200 toes," which appears to be a transcription error. Officials framed the tows as part of enforcing the ban to clear routes for the snow operation.

Officials did not record a formal vote or motion during the remarks; the announcement is a procedural directive to support the planned snow‑clearing work. No additional timeline or enforcement details (such as the exact window residents were given to move vehicles) were specified in the remarks.

City officials repeated that the parking ban will lift at 7 a.m. Thursday and that the Wednesday night operation is the reason for the restriction. Residents were asked to clear snow into yards rather than streets and to cooperate so crews can restore normal traffic flow.