Snow route parking ban may last into Wednesday
A snow route parking ban remains in effect as city crews continue clearing roads following the weekend snowfall.
The parking restriction started Monday at noon and could last up to three full days, or once the city announces it has been lifted.
The ban requires vehicles to be moved off snow routes until the ban is lifted, even if a road has been plowed.
Calgary Parking Authority officers monitor snow routes, and anyone who doesn’t move their vehicle could be ticketed or towed.
Snow routes are located on major roadways, collector roads and most bus routes, and can be identified throughout the city by blue signs with a white snowflake.
Any snowfall of two centimetres or more activates the city’s seven-day snow-clearing plan. Within the first 24 hours following a snowfall, the city clears Priority 1 roads before moving on to Priority 2 roads, which include key bus routes such as Kensington Road and Acadia Drive.
Roads spokesman Chris McGeachy said crews on Monday afternoon were focused on clearing Priority 1 routes — those that handle the city’s largest traffic volumes, seeing upwards of 20,000 vehicles per day, such as Glenmore, Sarcee and Macleod trails.
He said crews would likely get a jump on Priority 2 roads, those most affected by the parking ban, later in the day.
“As far as everything is concerned, our crews are just really trying to make sure the major roads are in good shape for the commute (Tuesday) morning,” McGeachy said.
“We just want to remind people that regardless of if the sun’s out and helping with the melting, there probably will be icy conditions on those roads (Tuesday) morning, so we’re just reminding people to drive to the conditions.”
Following Calgary’s weeks-long deep freeze, this week’s forecast includes warmer temperatures. Tuesday’s high should reach -4 C with a 30 per cent chance of flurries, followed by more snow Wednesday with a high of -5 C, according to Environment Canada.
McGeachy said it’s rare to see such bans last the full 72 hours.
“I don’t want to jinx anything but we do hope to be in there and out as quickly as possible,” he said. “That’s why it’s really, really important for people to remove their vehicles.
“When people move their vehicles, our crews are able to do those (Priority 2 routes) a lot quicker.
That’s why we really stress the importance of compliance.”
Fines for violations of the ban went up to $120 for this year’s winter season.
However, that falls to $80 if the ticket is paid within 10 days. It costs $90 if the ticket is paid within 30 days.
During a snow route parking ban, vehicles can continue to park in the ParkPlus system zones from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.
The Calgary Parking Authority offers free overnight parking during the bans from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in any ParkPlus surface lot or parkade displaying the ParkPlus logo.
On-street accessible parking zones located on snow routes are exempt from parking bans.
When people move their vehicles, our crews are able to do those (Priority 2 routes) a lot quicker.