Minneapolis Review

Minneapolis officials have declared a Snow Emergency beginning today, Jan. 4. 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 take effect so plows can clear the streets and emergency vehicles and other cars 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 people can avoid a ticket and tow.

Snow Emergency parking rules

• 9 p.m. today, Jan. 4 to 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5 (Day 1)

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

• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5 (Day 2)

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

• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 (Day 3)

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

For more information on Snow Emergencies in Minneapolis, visit minneapolismn.gov/snow.

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: Call the automated 612-348-SNOW hotline. 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 the City’s website 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 Snow Emergency parking map, 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 gov/snow.
• Social media: Like Minneapolis Snow Emergency on Facebook and Twitter.
• Email and text alerts: You can sign up to get Snow Emergency alerts automatically emailed or texted to you.
• Smartphone app: 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 the Snow Emergency parking map, which allows users to see the parking rules in detail by entering an address.
• 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 SD channel 14, HD channels 859 and 799.) These channels will have information in several languages 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:

• Minneapolis Snow Emergency Parking Rules (English)

  Find out where to park your car when a Snow Emergency is declared to avoid a ticket and a tow.

• Reglas de Estacionamiento de las Emergencias por Nevada (Spanish)

  Averigüe dónde estacionar su carro cuando se ha declarado una Emergencia por Nevada para evitar una multa y remolque.

• Xanibaada Goobaha Baabuurta La Dhigto Xilliga Gurmadka Barafka (Somali)

  Hel meel aad baabuurka dhigato marka lagu dhawaaqo gurmad barafka looga xaaqayo wadooyinka si aan gaariga lagaaga jiidin laguuna ganaaxin.

• Kev Cai Li Choj Txog Kev Kub Ceev thaum Daus Tau Lo  (Hmong)

  Thaum muaj daus tau lo, lub nroog yuav tsum tau kaus kev. Pej xeem yuav tsum tau tshem lawv lub tsheb, lub nroog thiaj li kaus tau kev du lug.

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 bill to pay for the cost of crews shoveling it. Learn more on the City’s website.

Original source can be found here.