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Snow Emergency Will Be in Effect until 7am on January 17.

The City of Madison has declared a snow emergency. This means alternate side parking restrictions will be in effect in the downtown/isthmus snow emergency zone as well as the rest of the City of Madison. This snow emergency will remain in effect until 7 a.m. on Wednesday, January 17.

The Streets Division crews along with heavy equipment contractors will begin plowing all city streets this evening. We expect plowing operations to start around 8pm on January 15 and it will take 12 to 14 hours for all streets to be cleared. Streets Division crews will maintain the city salt routes until switching to plowing residential areas. The combined plow force of the Streets Division and heavy equipment contractors will be approximately 150 pieces of equipment.

Madison residents are asked to remove all vehicles and trailers from the street if possible. Fewer obstacles in the road means crews the plowing operations will be safer, faster, and more complete.

Today’s plowing operations will likely cause delays in refuse, recycling, and Christmas tree collection on Tuesday, January 16. More information regarding these delays will follow.

Parking on the Street Tonight (Monday 1/15 into early morning of Tuesday 1/16)
All residents who must park on the street tonight (the evening of January 15 into early morning of January 16) need to have their vehicles on the EVEN house numbered side of the street between the hours of 1am and 7am. Violations of the alternate side parking rules are punishable by a fine of $60 throughout the entire City of Madison. Violators could also be towed.

Parking on the Street Tomorrow Night (Tuesday 1/16 into the early morning of Wednesday 1/17)
Vehicles parked on the tomorrow night (the evening of January 16 into early morning of January 17) should have their vehicles on the ODD house-numbered side of the street between the hours of 1am and 7am. Violations of the alternate side parking rules are punishable by a fine of $60 throughout the entire City of Madison. Violators could also be towed.

Other Parking Information
Residents are reminded that all daytime parking restrictions will be enforced. That includes restrictions that ban parking on selected blocks in the Downtown/Isthmus area and on the near east and near west sides. Parkers should pay attention to all parking signs.
Parking is available in the cashiered sections of city-owned ramps in the downtown area. During a declared Snow Emergency you can park for no charge at the City ramps from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. If you enter before 9 p.m. or leave after 7 a.m. you are liable for any parking charges before 9 p.m. and from 7 a.m. until the time you leave.

When parking in the ramps overnight, do not park on the top level so this area can be plowed. Be aware that vehicles stored in city ramps longer than 48 hours are subject to being ticketed and towed. Meters in lots and ramps are enforced 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Parking is also available at the Brittingham Park Shelter parking lot off of W. Washington Ave.

Why You Should Follow Alternate Side Parking
Following alternate side parking keeps the roads open, wide, and safe for all roadway users – cars, bikes, emergency vehicles, refuse/recycling collection, and so on.

During tonight’s snow emergency, when you park on the EVEN side of the street as you should, that leaves an open lane of travel on the ODD side for the plows to push the snow all the way back to the curb.

And tomorrow night, when you park on the ODD as you should, that means plows can get to all the snow on the EVEN side that they could not the night before since of all the parked cars were there.

Refuse and Recycling Delays
The collection of refuse and recycling for January 16 may be delayed for some residents in the Monday and/or Tuesday collection districts as crews for those collection facets will be needed to plow the entire residential public street network.

Residents in the Monday and Tuesday districts are reminded to have their container to the curb for collection prior to 7am on January 16. They are also reminded not to place their containers in the gutter line during plowing operations. Plows maneuvering around collection carts create swaths of unplowed street that require crews to return to certain to these areas later and therefore slowing the plowing operations for Madison.

If you are within the Monday and Tuesday districts and your refuse or recycling is not collected, be sure to have your cart(s) to the curb by 7am Wednesday, January 17. Crews will work to finish those collection districts that were left incomplete at that time as well as collecting all of the Wednesday collection district as scheduled.

Christmas Tree Collection Delayed
Since crews will be needed for snow plow operations, and others will be diverted to collect refuse and recycling for both the Monday and Tuesday districts due to Monday’s holiday, the second round of Christmas tree collection will not begin on January 16.

The second round of tree collection will begin on January 17. Individuals wishing to have their tree collected at the curb should be sure their tree is to the curb and accessible by 7am on January 17. Trees that have become buried by snow may not be collected by crews, so residents may need to dig out their trees from the snow if they have placed them to the curb.

Trees set out after 7am on January 17 may not be collected during the second and final Christmas tree collection round. Residents who miss the second round can bring their trees to one of the Streets Division drop-off sites, or hold the tree until regular brush collection begins in the spring.

Additional Information on Plowing Operations
Since a bulk of the plowing operation will occur overnight, residents are reminded that they may need to give themselves a few extra minutes in the morning to clear their driveway apron from snow prior to their Tuesday morning commutes.

While we hope to have the snow plowed from all City of Madison streets by the start of the Tuesday commute, it is probable our crews will still be out plowing at that time. Be sure to give snow plow operators plenty of space as they work to make the roads safe.

Also, if you are on the roads during the plow operations this evening, it is common to encounter temporary windrows blocking side streets as crews loop through neighborhoods plowing the snow back to the curb.  

In general, everyone is encouraged to make good choices when on the roads.  Plan to need extra travel time to get to your destination tonight and Tuesday morning. Drive slow. Brake early. Be cautious.      

Madison residents can get complete snow emergency information at www.cityofmadison.com/winter or by calling 608-261-9111.
 

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