Snow route parking ban ends ahead of schedule

Calgary’s latest snow route parking ban has ended, 16 hours ahead of schedule.

The ban, which restricted parking along the city’s snow routes, began Saturday morning. Snow route parking bans can last up to 72 hours, meaning the latest one would have otherwise ended by Tuesday morning.

The Calgary Parking Authority issued 2,050 tickets for vehicles in violation of the ban as of Monday at 4 p.m. The ban officially ended at 6 p.m.

A separate snow route parking ban last week, which lasted just under two full days, saw 2,945 tickets issued. Designated snow routes are marked by blue signs with a white snowflake. The fine for violating the ban is $75. However, this falls to $40 if the ticket is paid within 10 days. It costs $50 if the ticket is paid within 30 days.

The purpose of such bans is to keep the city’s Priority 2 roads, which include key bus routes, clear of vehicles following major snowfalls as city crews plow the roads.

On Monday afternoon, 49 sanders and 24 graders were working on roadways, while 48 staff with 24 pieces of small equipment were working on pedestrian facilities such as steps, walks, and pedestrian overpasses, according to the city.

More snow is expected to fall in Calgary later this week, as Environment Canada forecasts a 60 per cent chance of flurries late Tuesday evening and overnight. But a third straight parking ban was unlikely, according to a spokeswoman for the city’s roads department.

“It would have to be a significant snowfall for that to happen,” said spokeswoman Tara Norton-Merrin. “Right now, we don’t expect that.”