In a veiled dig at the mayor, state Sen. Nick Collins formally requested that the state step in to help the City of Boston clear snow due to the citywide “public safety issue” that has persisted since last week’s storm dumped two feet of snow.

Collins made his appeal Tuesday in a letter to Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Phillip Eng and Massachusetts Port Authority CEO Richard Davey, saying that their help “would be delivering an enormous service to taxpayers” who are not receiving the “baseline level of safety” that should be expected in Boston.

“I write to you with great urgency regarding a public safety issue in my district and across the neighborhoods of Boston,” Collins, a South Boston Democrat, wrote. “The recent snowstorm brought a significant amount of snow to the Boston area.

“While City of Boston crews and contractors have done what they can, intersections, crosswalks, handicap ramps, fire hydrants, and school bus stops remain clogged. As snow turns to ice, removal becomes even more difficult.”

Collins said the situation has “created public and transportation safety issues, particularly for older adults, persons with disabilities, and families with children.”

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“With temperatures expected to rise in the coming days, I am writing to request the assistance of MassDOT, the MBTA, and the Massachusetts Port Authority’s crews and contractors to help the city clear snow from public streets and ways,” the state senator wrote.

“By coming together to provide support and assistance, your state agencies will be delivering an enormous service to taxpayers. They should be able to expect a baseline level of safety that they are not receiving right now,” Collins added.

Mayor Michelle Wu’s office responded to a Herald inquiry about Collins’ letter by providing a statement from Interim Chief of Streets Nick Gove defending the city’s round-the-clock response that has continued since the storm.

“I want to thank our dedicated staff and contractors for their tireless commitment,” Gove said. “Our teams have maintained 24/7 operations to restore neighborhood access and ensure the city remains mobile. This is a massive undertaking that requires total coordination.

“We are grateful to the many property owners who have helped by clearing sidewalks, hydrants and ramps,” Gove added. “Recovering from a storm of this magnitude requires a collective citywide effort.”

A car sits buried on Westland Street. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)