Following the three-day Snow Emergency, Winter Parking Restrictions will take effect 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

Minneapolis officials have declared a Snow Emergency beginning today, Sunday, Feb. 24. City crews have been plowing and treating streets to keep them drivable. Now that a Snow Emergency has been declared, parking restrictions will take effect beginning at 9 p.m. tonight so crews can plow more than 1,000 miles of streets as wide as possible. That’s the equivalent of 3,200 “lane miles” of streets that need to be plowed—enough to plow a lane from Minneapolis to Anchorage, Alaska.

When a Snow Emergency is declared, parking rules go into effect so plows can clear the streets and fire trucks, police cars, ambulances and other vehicles can then get around and park. Plowing the streets completely requires vehicles parked on streets to move. It’s in everyone’s best interest to do their part and follow the parking rules so plows can do the best job possible, and folks can avoid a ticket and tow.

Winter Parking Restrictions start 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

Following the three-day Snow Emergency, Winter Parking Restrictions begin 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27 to ensure city streets are passable for emergency vehicles, buses and other travelers in the face of heavy snow accumulation this winter.

Winter Parking Restrictions means parking will be banned on the EVEN numbered side of non-Snow-Emergency-routes until April 1, unless conditions allow the City to lift the ban earlier. Parking is allowed on Snow Emergency routes, parkways, and the ODD numbered side of non-Snow Emergency-routes, unless otherwise posted. The Winter Parking Restrictions information will be shared with the City’s communications tools used to share Snow Emergency information as well.

Snow Emergency parking rules

Sunday, Feb. 24, 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. (Day 1)

Do not park on EITHER side of Snow Emergency routes until 8 a.m. or the street is fully plowed.

Monday, Feb. 25, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Day 2)

Do not park on the EVEN numbered side of non-Snow Emergency routes until 8 p.m., or that side of the street is fully plowed, or on EITHER side of parkways until 8 p.m., or the parkway is fully plowed.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Day 3)

Do not park on the ODD numbered side of non-Snow Emergency routes until 8 p.m., or that side of the street is fully plowed.

NOTE: Between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Wednesday Feb. 27, people should move their vehicles from the EVEN numbered side of non-Snow Emergency routes when Winter Parking Restrictions take effect at 8 a.m.

Sign up now, stay informed throughout the season

Residents, workers and visitors have several ways to learn when Snow Emergencies are declared and what to do when they are. The City advises drivers to put many of these tools to use, not just one or two. The more ways people use to learn about a Snow Emergency, the more prepared they will be to do their part, and the less likely they will be towed.

Hotline: By calling the automated 612-348-SNOW hotline, folks can find out if a Snow Emergency has been declared. If a Snow Emergency is in effect, the hotline will have information on that day’s parking restrictions that drivers need to follow to avoid tickets and tows. The hotline includes information in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.

The City’s website: Go to minneapolismn.gov/snow to find out whether a Snow Emergency has been declared and for a wealth of information on Snow Emergencies in many languages. Also, check out the street lookup, which lets you put in an address or a neighborhood to see where you can park during a Snow Emergency.

Phone calls to residents: Minneapolis uses automated phone calls to notify residents when Snow Emergencies are declared. The system can place thousands of calls per hour. You can add your cellphone or unlisted landline number to the alert system by signing up at minneapolismn.gov/snow.

Email alerts: You can sign up to get Snow Emergency alerts automatically emailed or text messaged to you. Go to minneapolismn.gov/snow/snow_esubscribe for more details.

App for Android devices and iPhones: Drivers who have Android devices or iPhones can download the Snow Emergency app. During a Snow Emergency, the app will tell them the parking rules for that day. It also has a street lookup, which allows users to see the parking rules in detail by entering an address or using the device’s location services features.

The news media: News releases are sent to the media so TV, radio stations and other news outlets can inform their viewers and listeners that a Snow Emergency is in effect.

Cable TV: Tune in to Minneapolis City TV (Comcast channel 859 or CenturyLink channel 8502). These channels will have information in several languages when a Snow Emergency is declared.

Facebook: Like Minneapolis Snow Emergency on Facebook. Go to facebook.com/MinneapolisSnowEmergency.

Twitter: twitter.com/minneapolissnow. If you have a Twitter account, just follow us. Both the Twitter and Facebook pages will tell fans and followers when a Snow Emergency is declared.

Videos: Informative videos in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong are available online to help explain where you can park when a Snow Emergency is declared:

Remember to shovel sidewalks and shovel around your garbage carts

Sidewalks are a critical part of our city’s transportation system, and they should be open for everyone. That’s why Minneapolis ordinance requires property owners to clear sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowfall for houses and duplexes, and four daytime hours for all other properties. Failure to shovel your walk could lead to a ticket plus the cost of crews shoveling it.

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