Snow Emergency Not Extended

January 29, 2019 11:35 am

I’m so confused about when to expect there will be a snow emergency. I thought the rule was that if there was more than 3 inches of snow and it had stopped snowing, there would be a snow emergency that night and the following night and that the snow emergency would be called by 6pm. But apparently, this year, we’re just making it up as we go along . . . which is going to lead to confusion and more tickets for my neighbors.

This is from Bryan Johnson at the Streets Division:

The Streets Division will not be extended the snow emergency beyond today. The extreme cold temperatures are too dangerous for Parking Enforcement and tow truck drivers to move cars. We will be continuing our street widening efforts during the daytime hours. On Thursday, January 31, we will re-evaluate the roads. If we find the roads are too narrow, especially in the Snow Emergency Zone, we will declare a snow emergency for that night in order to trigger the ticketing and towing necessary to move cars out of the way so we can plow back the streets.

Attached and below is the press release that says pretty much the same thing, but only with more words and paragraphs.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Snow Emergency Not Extended

The Streets Division will not extend the snow emergency beyond 7:00 a.m. today. Road conditions will be re-evaluated on Thursday, January 31. If narrow roads persist, especially within the Snow Emergency Zone, a snow emergency may be declared at that time to help with street widening efforts.

Performing snow emergency operations places Parking Enforcement Officers and tow truck drivers in winter weather as they ticket and tow illegally parked vehicles. With the severe cold temperatures for the next two nights, the Streets Division has decided to end the snow emergency for the most recent storm today at 7:00 a.m. rather than expose these workers to the dangerous weather.

Streets Division plow trucks are continuing daytime efforts to widen streets that had been blocked by parked cars and other on-street obstructions. Everyone who parks on the street during the day should follow the daytime parking restrictions for where they leave their vehicles in order to assist with plowing. Parking restrictions vary by area, so be mindful of street signage and other on-street parking regulations.

Individuals who park within the Snow Emergency Zone are not required to follow overnight alternate side parking rules until the next declared snow emergency. Those who park within the Snow Emergency Zone are still required to follow all daytime restrictions for where their vehicles are parked.

If daytime street widening plowing operations are ineffective and streets remain too narrow, especially in the Snow Emergency Zone, a snow emergency may be declared after the severe cold passes in order to facilitate ticketing and towing operations necessary to move vehicles so plow trucks can widen the streets. This decision will be made on Thursday, January 31.

More information about City of Madison winter operations can be found on the City’s winter website, www.cityofmadison.com/winter.

All I can say is sign up for the texts and emails on the website . . . even the city website isn’t always correct – if you check too early it will be wrong. I thought they were supposed to declare the snow emergency by 6pm, but that doesn’t seem to be the rule any more either . . .