Crews clear snow from the roadways in Massachusetts.
Credit: Nicolaus Czarnecki, Metro file photo
If you’re a non-essential state worker, you’re lucky today.
Secretary of Commonwealth Bill Galvin said Tuesday afternoon that he is released non-emergency state employees at 1:30 p.m. as a winter storm approaches the Boston area just in time for the evening commute. Galvin is acting as governor with Gov. Deval Patrick in Asia and no lieutenant governor since Tim Murray resigned.
Just before noon, the National Weather Service increased its predicted snowfall amounts for Boston. The city was expected to get between six and eight inches of snow. Previous forecasts called for four inches.
The timing of the storm has also concerned state officials, as the heaviest snow was expected to fall during the evening commute.
Galvin said he’s also urging private businesses to release employees early.
“I am also asking private employers in the Greater Boston area to consider releasing their employees earlier in order for them to reach their homes by 4:00pm when the intensity of the storm in likely to make travel difficult,” Galvin said in a statement.
He added that travel could also be deferred to after 7 p.m. and urged people to use public transportation.
Carpool lanes would open early at 1:30 p.m., Gavlin said.
Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.
