Seth JacobsonUSA TODAY NETWORK - New England
It's that time of year again.
Students are moving back to college in Massachusetts and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has one word for those making the move - don't get "Storrowed."
Building on the success oflast year's social media campaign,the DCR is once again using social media to get the word out to students and new residents. There were no "storrowing" incidentsduring move-in weekend last year, and DCR "aims to keep this streak alive" with new creative and engaging content.This year's campaignuses humor, memes and timely reminders to ensure new residents and students are informed about the risk of driving oversized vehicles on certain parkways.
DCR has also expanded its pilot program for new, more visible, and durable “Cars Only” signs warning truck and van drivers of the low bridge clearances on Storrow Drive, Soldiers Field Road, and Memorial Drive. Vehicles more than nine feet run the risk of getting stuck under those overpasses.
'Don't get Storrowed'
These roadways are restricted to “cars only” and have height restrictions as low as nine feet. Trucks, vans, and box trucks exceeding this height limit risk getting stuck under the overpasses, a situation commonly referred to as “storrowing.”
On X, formerly Twitter, DCR stated this week, "Keep your move-in day a thriller, not a horror. Don't take vehicles like box trucks on the low-clearance Storrow Drive, Soldiers Field Road or Memorial Drive when moving to the Boston area. Watch for the many warning signs and heed their advice."
“As we approach move-in day in Boston, DCR is expanding our efforts to warn the tens of thousands of students and new residents moving into the city of the low bridge clearances along our river roads,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “We’ve all seen what happens when moving trucks miss those warning signs – roofs of trucks get ripped off and traffic backs up. We hope our new, more durable signage and a creative social media campaign prevent damage to our bridges and moving trucks while ensuring a safe and hassle-free experience for everyone.”
What are some of the Boston schools involved in move-in week?
Some schools include:
- Boston College
- Boston University
- Northeastern University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- UMass-Boston
What are some alternate routes than Storrow Drive people can take?
According to DCR, drivers are advised to seek alternative routes, "including Beacon Street, Commonwealth Avenue, and the Massachusetts Turnpike. All bridges east of the Eliot Bridge – including the BU Bridge, Harvard Bridge, Longfellow Bridge, Western Avenue Bridge, River Street Bridge, and Anderson Bridge - are open to trucks."
Is the DCR doing anything to let people know about the issue?
Yes.
According to the DCR, the new“Cars Only” signs installed last year on David G. Mugar Way with high-visibility yellow aluminum and retroreflective sheeting, were designed to be more visible and durable, especially in harsh weather conditions. The new signs proved strong after surviving a high-speed run-in with an overweight truck and several other incidents. Because of this, DCR moved to install thesenewsigns on Soldiers Field Road by the North Harvard bridge and Memorial Drive at Wadsworth Street. The signs include an extra four inches of rubber at the bottom for initial contact with over-height vehicles and an improved hanging design to withstand high winds.
If these signs prove to be successful, DCR will replace approximately 50 remaining older signs with this newer version.
The DCR is also running social media campaigns about getting "Storrowed."
DCR officials are urging anyone renting a truck for their move...to check whether bridges on their route of travel can accommodate the height of their vehicle, to seek alternative routes if not, and to observe height information on posted signage and electronic message boards.
MassDOT also noted that if you're using GPS, that technology will not necessarily tell you about overpass clearance room.
What are some parking restrictions for Boston University?
Parking restrictions will be in place from Aug. 31 – Sept. 1, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to help facilitate student move-in, according to Boston.gov.
- Pratt Street, North side (even side), from Linden Street to Ashford Street.
- Ashford Street, North side (even side), from Linden Street to Malvern Street
- Gardner Street, North side (even side), from Linden Street to Malvern Street
- Linden Street, East side (even side), from Gardner Street to Pratt Street.
- Brighton Avenue, South side (even side), from Linden Street to Reedsdale Street.
- Highgate Street, North side (even side), from Cambridge Street to Farrington Street.
- Farrington Street, North side (even side), in front of #14 Farrington Street to Highgate Street.
- Cambridge Street, South side (even side), from #424 Cambridge Street (near Denby Street) to Linden Street.
- Wadsworth Street, North side (even side), from Pratt Street to Hartley Terrace.
What are some parking restrictions around Northeastern University?
Parking restrictions will be in place on the following streets, according to Boston.gov:
- Opera Place, Both sides, from Huntington Avenue to Saint Stephen Street
- Gainsborough Street South side (even side, Matthews Arena side), from Saint Botolph Street heading southerly to MBTA
- Gainsborough Street, Both sides, from Huntington Avenue to Hemenway Street
- Hemenway Street, Even side, from Forsyth Way to Westland Avenue.
- Saint Stephen Street, Both sides, from Gainsborough Street to Massachusetts Avenue
- Symphony Road, Both sides, from Hemenway Street to Saint Stephens Street
- Westland Avenue, Both sides, from Hemenway Street to Massachusetts Avenue
