Fall River Extends Parking Ban as Snow Cleanup Frustrations Grow

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Fall River has extended its citywide parking ban through the weekend as snow cleanup efforts continue to frustrate residents and local leaders. The mayor's office cited the upcoming forecast of additional snow as the reason for keeping the ban in place, making this one of the longest parking bans in recent memory for the city. Officials have struggled with a lack of available plow drivers to clear the streets following last weekend's major winter storm.

Why it matters

The extended parking ban and slow snow cleanup in Fall River highlight the challenges municipalities face in responding to major winter weather events, especially when resources like plow drivers are limited. This is causing growing frustration among residents who are eager to return to normal after the storm.

The details

Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan announced on Friday that the citywide parking ban will remain in effect through the weekend due to the forecast of additional snow. The memo from the mayor's office noted that the extended ban is necessary to allow plows to continue clearing streets. However, the ban has been one of the longest in recent memory for the city, with streets still not fully cleared nearly a week after the initial storm. Officials have cited a lack of available plow drivers as a major factor in the slow cleanup process.

• Last weekend, a major winter storm hit the SouthCoast region.
• As of Friday, January 30, 2026, the streets in Fall River were still not fully cleared, nearly a week after the storm.
• The parking ban in Fall River has been extended through the weekend.

What they’re saying

What’s next

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