Worcester’s next snowstorm may still be weeks away, but the city is already changing the way it plans to fight it.
After what City Manager Eric Batista described as Worcester’s eighth snowiest winter on record, with more than 6½ feet of snow, the Department of Public Works is preparing to head into the 2026-27 season with more equipment, additional mechanics and drivers, expanded use of road brine and a new approach to storms that produce less than two inches of snow.
The changes, outlined in a report heading to the city council on Tuesday, Oct. 13, follow a review of last winter’s operations that identified problems with equipment reliability, staffing, contractor availability and the ability to keep streets clear during prolonged storms. DPW spent the spring and summer addressing those issues, although officials acknowledge that some challenges remain…