Minneapolis snow Emergency Information
Help spread the word to keep your friends and neighbors from having their cars ticketed and towed
Dec. 29, 2015 (MINNEAPOLIS) Minneapolis officials have declared a Snow Emergency beginning today, Dec. 29. 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., Tuesday, so crews can plow more than 1,000 miles of streets from curb to curb. 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 follow the parking rules so plows can do the best job possible, and folks can avoid a ticket and tow.
Snow Emergency parking rules
Tonight, Dec. 29, 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. (Day 1)
Do not park on EITHER side of a Snow Emergency route until the street is fully plowed.
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Day 2)
Do not park on the EVEN side of a non-Snow Emergency route until that side of the street is fully plowed, or on EITHER side of a parkway until the parkway is fully plowed.
Thursday, Dec. 31, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Day 3)
Do not park on the ODD side of a non-Snow Emergency route until that side of the street is fully plowed.
For more information on Snow Emergencies in Minneapolis, visit www.minneapolismn.gov/snow.
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 apartment and commercial buildings. Failure to shovel your walk could lead to a ticket plus the cost of crews shoveling it.
There may be resources for people who need help clearing their sidewalks. Call 311 for a list of resources that might be available.
Information provided by the City of Minneapolis
St. Paul snow Emergency Information
Saint Paul Declares Snow Emergency
Beginning at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, 12/29/15, all NIGHT PLOW ROUTES will be plowed. Night Plow Routes include streets with signs posted that say “NIGHT PLOW ROUTE” and “NIGHT PLOW ROUTE-THIS SIDE OF STREET.”
Vehicles which are not moved from Night Plow Routes by 9 p.m. Tuesday, 12/29/15 will be ticketed and towed.
Beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, 12/30/15, all DAY PLOW ROUTES will be plowed. If the street is not marked as a “Night Plow Route,” it is considered a Day Plow Route.
Vehicles that are not moved from Day Plow Routes by 8 a.m. Wednesday, 12/30/15, will be ticketed and towed.
Parking is banned until streets are plowed full width.
Visit http://www.stpaul.gov/snow or call (651) 266-PLOW for more information.
Please share this information with family, friends, neighbors and coworkers!
A Snow Emergency is typically declared after snowfalls of 3” or more, or after an accumulation of 3” or more from several snowfalls. When a snow emergency is declared, residents are asked to follow specific parking guidelines to allow for efficient snow removal operations. Vehicles in violation of parking restrictions are ticketed and towed.
SNOW EMERGENCY PARKING GUIDELINES
Snow emergencies begin with NIGHT PLOW ROUTES at 9 p.m. the day of the declared snow emergency.
- Night Plow Routes are marked with signs that say “NIGHT PLOW ROUTE” or “NIGHT PLOW ROUTE THIS SIDE OF STREET.”
- All of downtown Saint Paul is part of the Night Plow Route, even though no signs are posted.
- Parking is banned on Night Plow Routes until the street is plowed full-width.
- Vehicles which are not moved from Night Plow Routes by 9 p.m. on the day of the declared snow emergency will be ticketed and towed.
Look for these signs:
Snow emergencies continue with DAY PLOW ROUTES the morning following the declared snow emergency.
- Plowing starts after night routes are plowed, which is typically around 8 a.m.
- There are NO SIGNS on Day Plow Routes.
- Parking is banned on these routes until the street has been plowed full-width.
- Vehicles which are not moved from Day Plow Routes by 8 a.m. the day after the snow emergency has been declared will be ticketed and towed.
Tagging and Towing Continues for 96 Hours
After the first two phases of the snow emergency are complete, follow-up plowing, sanding and salting and miscellaneous cleanup follows for as long as is required. Any vehicle parked in an area that has not been plowed full-width is subject to ticketing and towing for 4 days (or 96 hours) after the emergency has been declared.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Ticketing and Towing
If your vehicle was towed during a snow emergency, visit the Ticketing, Towing and Storage Fees page to find impound lot location information. To report vehicles that are in violation of snow emergency parking restrictions, call 651-266-9800, option 2.
Vehicle towed to impound? Find it here.
Property Damaged from Snow Plows
If your property has been damaged by a snow plow, we apologize. Please call 651-266-9700 or email snowemergency@ci.stpaul.mn.us to report the damaged property and crews will be out to address it.
Information provided by the City of St. Paul
Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.