Both students and members of Tufts' Department of Facilities Services report enjoying an easier winter due to reduced snowfall in the Boston area this year.
"It's gone very well … largely due to the fact that we've had very little snow," Director of Facilities Services Bob Burns said.
This year has seen minimal snow and ice conditions, according to Burns, which is in stark contrast to last year when snowstorm after snowstorm hit the campus. Burns said Facilities workers have had a much easier time keeping Tufts safe this winter.
"It's been less stressful than last year when … I think we had over 80 inches of snow," he said. "We had probably four to five times the amount of snow last year."
According to the National Weather Service, 80.1 inches of snow fell in the winter of 2010-2011 in Boston, nearly twice the season average. This year, the total so far is only about nine inches.
The limited snowfall has also been convenient for Burns and his coworkers, who have a big job to do when a storm hits.
"We need to make sure that all the heating systems are working throughout the campus, in all the buildings, the dormitories and the labs, on all campuses," he said. "We also make sure that roads, walkways and stairs are free of snow and ice."
When snow falls heavily overnight, Burns must call in workers, even custodians who do not normally deal with such issues, to prepare the campus before students and faculty wake up.
"We bring staff in early in the morning to make sure that the walkways and the roads and stairways are … clear of ice and snow," he said. "The whole goal is to make sure that the campus is safe from … people slipping on the ice by 8 a.m. every single day."
Last year's weather required frequent early mornings for the Facilities staff. This year, however, Burns said he cannot remember the process happening more than six or seven times. They also have not had to deal with school closings, a memorable feature of last winter, he said.
"The university closed twice last year, and we had delayed openings I think three times last year," Burns said. "We had none of that this year."
Facilities is saving not only time and effort but also resources. Unused salt and other supplies for clearing snowy and icy walkways can be saved for next year, according to Burns.
"I would say we used about four times as much [salt] last year," he said. "We can certainly be able to store our winter supplies [for next year]."
The Boston Herald recently reported that Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is considering using the more than $30 million the state of Massachusetts saved in snow and ice removal this winter to bail out the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), which may soon implement fare hikes and service cuts to help close its enormous budget shortfall. Although Facilities will be able to save some supplies, there will be no bailouts on the Tufts campus.
"We don't spend nearly that amount of money," Burns said, laughing.
However, some students said they would appreciate a Massachusetts bailout of the MBTA, since they frequently use buses and the subway, and fare hikes and service cuts would have a major effect on the community.
Freshman Sam Wolpert said he uses the bus every week to get to a mentoring program in a different part of Somerville. Although the bus he takes is not slated for cancellation, he has seen the important role that public transportation plays in Somerville residents' lives.
"I only use it once a week… but I do completely rely on it," Wolpert said. "Imagine how many people rely on it completely every day to get to something where they need it in their life, like a job or … school."
Whether the MBTA gets bailed out or not, Burns said this warmer winter has been beneficial for Tufts.
"It's made it much easier for everyone," he said, "Not just for Facilities but for the students and the faculty."
Junior Amy Bean acknowledged that this winter is something of an aberration, but she expressed an overall preference for the unseasonable warmth.
"I'm a huge fan of there not being a lot of snow," Bean said. "It's been really convenient."
