UPDATE: MBTA Fails To Clean Snow From Handicapped-Accessible Parking Spaces

Originally posted at 8:50 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 12. Updated for Saturday’s newsletter.

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Monday through Friday, Framingham resident Keith Nelson takes the MBTA Commuter Rail to work.

He goes to the West Natick stop and parks his vehicle.

This week, that easy task has been almost impossible, as the four handicapped parking spaces have been covered with snow.

In fact, the handicapped parking spaces have been covered for four straight days, including Friday, Feb. 12.

Nelson said he first reported the snow-covered parking spaces to Keolis, who operates the commuter rail for the MBTA, on Tuesday, the day after the snowstorm.

He said he was told they would be cleared.

Wednesday morning, the four spaces were still covered.

Nelson then reported the matter to Keolis again, who told him that the contractor for the lot (LAZ Parking) would be notified of the problem, and it would be given priority.

Thursday morning, ”I was disappointed to the find the spaces still covered,” said Nelson to Framingham Patch.

“By not removing the snow (or actually by pushing snow onto those spaces in the first place) these handicapped accessible spaces have been rendered non-accessible,” said Nelson, who also emailed Keolis and LAZ parking, along with Framingham Patch.

And again, Friday morning those spaces were still covered, said Nelson.

“I have a disability placard for my vehicle. I was fortunate that one of the two handicapped spaces on the other side of the lot were cleared. But any commuters requiring the use of these spaces who arrived after me would not have been able to park their vehicles safely,” said Nelson.

Nelson said he contacted the Natick Disability Board, who told him that they would investigate and cite them.

At 10:14 a.m. Friday, Patch received an email from Karen Amaral, customer service at LAZ Parking. She told Patch “I have sent this concern to the manager of the location to receive an update.”

Framingham Disability Commissioner Chair Karen Foran Dempsey stopped by the MBTA West Natick lot on Friday afternoon and told Patch that part of the spaces were still under snow.

Dempsey told Patch the Commission would be “contacting the State,” as this has been a “reoccurring problem.”

Patch never heard from LAZ Parking, Keolis or MBTA about the status of the lot the rest of Friday.

But riday night when Nelson came back to the lot he told Patch, “When I got off the train tonight there were two spaces cleared off. They have a front loader on site so it appears they’re going to finish the job tonight or tomorrow.”

Added Nelson, “If they had only done it right in the first place.”

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Attached to this report are photos of the snow-covered spots provided by Nelson.