Meira Levinson of the Arborway explains the ice problem she and other parkway residents have.

MBTA officials told a City Council committee today they will commit resources this winter to shovel out bus stops in Boston - and the connections to the sidewalks behind them.

At a hearing called by City Councilor Matt O'Malley (West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain), a T official said the authority will have at least 72 people dedicated to keeping bus stops clear during and after storms - with some additional help from more than 200 subway-station workers. The T is not technically responsible for bus-stop clearing, but pitched in this past winter as storm after storm left stops inaccessible to riders.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation says it is considering snowplows that push to the left instead of the right for the populated parkways that pass through Boston, such as the Arborway, the Jamaicaway and the VFW Parkway.

Red Sox memorial building. Photo by BFD.

Updated Saturday morning.

A crumbling building on Chelsea Street collapsed completely late Friday night, sending pieces of itself flying across the street.

Police ordered Chelsea Street closed late Friday after 47 Chelsea St. finally gave way. The neighboring 45 Chelsea "has some issues" as well, the Boston Fire Department reports:

On October 11th, we evacuated 45 Chelsea St. because we thought 47 was unstable and in danger of collapse. Collapse it did sending brick and concrete flying across Chelsea St. in East Boston. There were no injuries.

The view from the rear.

Roads in eastern Massachusetts became parking lots this morning. An 18-wheeler ran off the road on 93 south in Dorchester, a bad crash shut Hyde Park Avenue at Metropolitan Avenue and the Jamaicaway ground to a standstill.

I see 2-3 new ones every day on Soldiers Field Road, Matt Grondin reports.

Some possible explanations.

The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports a task force looking at how to replace the hulking Casey Overpass are down to two options: A bridge that would replicate the current traffic flow and ground-level intersections. State Rep. Russell Holmes, who favors a bridge, said the committee should hold hearings in Dorchester and Mattapan, in addition to JP, because of the overpass's importance as a regional route.

Channel 4 tracks down and interviews the driver captured on Eoin O'Carrol's helmetcam on Mass. Ave. a couple weeks back.

Boston Police report arresting a man on charges he broke into a car on Washington Street this morning. Police report they had some help from the car's owner - who heard his alarm go off around 6:05 a.m.:

Councilor Matt O'Malley (West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain) wants a snow powwow before the first flakes hit to figure out which city or state agencies will plow - or take the blame for not plowing - sidewalks in areas such as bus stops and bridges.

Steve Garfield warns, from first-hand experience, that the flat-fee night parking rate at the Prudential Center garage only applies if you come back with a validated ticket; otherwise, you get charged the daytime hourly rate.