Council Meeting Rescheduled, Snow Emergency and Large Item and Christmas Tree Delays

I'm making a brief exception to provide some winter-related updates. The best place to get future winter updates remains www.cityofmadison.com/winter.

Due to today's storm, tonight's city council meeting has been rescheduled to next Tuesday, January 29th. The meeting on the 29th will not have any public hearings. The public hearings that were previously schedule for tonight (including for resurfacing projects in the district) will take place at the February 5 council meeting.

Madison Declares Snow Emergency

The City of Madison has declared a snow emergency. This means alternate side parking restrictions will be in effect tonight for the Snow Emergency Zone as well as the rest of the City of Madison.  The snow emergency will remain in effect until at least 7 a.m. on January 24.

Depending on road conditions, the snow emergency may be extended beyond January 24.

During the overnight hours this evening, Streets Division crews will continue maintaining the salt routes and also begin plowing the Snow Emergency Zone. 

Individuals who park their vehicle in the Snow Emergency Zone overnight must abide by alternate side parking rules. Those who do not follow the alternate side parking rules may be ticketed and towed.

All Madison residents are encouraged to choose off-street parking options for their vehicles and trailers for the evenings of January 22 through January 24. Fewer obstacles in the road means plowing operations will be safer, faster, and more complete.  

The Streets Division crews along with heavy equipment contractors will begin plowing all city streets during the morning of Wednesday, January 23 when the storm is predicted to end.

All Madison streets should have their initial plowing 14 to 16 hours after the citywide plowing begins on Wednesday morning. 

Parking on the Street Tonight (Tuesday 1/22/19 into early morning of Wednesday 1/23/19)

All residents who must park on the street tonight (the evening of January 22 into early morning of January 23) need to 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.

Parking on the Street Tomorrow Night (Wednesday 1/23/19 into the early morning of Thursday 1/24/19)

Vehicles parked on the tomorrow night (the evening of Wednesday January 23 into early morning of Thursday January 24) should 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.

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 area and on the near east and near west sides.  Parkers should pay attention to all parking signs.

Parking will be 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, bicycles, emergency vehicles, refuse/recycling collection, and so on. 

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

And tomorrow night, for the second half of the snow emergency, parking on the EVEN side means plows can get to all the snow on the ODD side that they could not the night before since of all the parked cars were there.

Additional Information

Madison residents can get additional snow emergency information at www.cityofmadison.com/winter and addition winter parking information by calling 608-261-9111.

Snow Emergency Towing in Effect

In response to the declared snow emergency in Madison, vehicles on the below listed areas within the Snow Emergency Zone that are found in violation of the alternate side parking ordinance will be ticketed and towed.  

• 300 block of S Hamilton St.
• W Doty St. (all)
• 100 - 300 blocks and 700-800 blocks of W. Washington Ave.
• 300 - 600 blocks of W Mifflin St.
• 10 N Bedford to 300 S Bedford St.
• 10 - 200 blocks of  W. Gilman St
• 300 - 500 blocks of N Carroll St
• 300 – 600 blocks of N Henry St.
• 200, 300, and 500 blocks of Wisconsin Ave.
• 200 – 10 N. Baldwin St.
• 200 – 500 blocks E. Mifflin St.
• 100 – 300 blocks of N Hamilton St.
• N. Hancock St. (all)
• S. Hancock St. (all)
• N. Franklin St. (all)
• S. Franklin St. (all)
• N. Blair St. (all)
• E. Johnson St. (from Blair to Baldwin)

Parking on the Street Tonight for All of Madison (Tuesday 1/22/19 into early morning of Wednesday 1/23/19)

All residents who must park on the street tonight (the evening of January 22 into early morning of January 23) need to 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.

Parking on the Street Tomorrow Night for All of Madison (Wednesday 1/23/19 into the early morning of Thursday 1/24/19)

Vehicles parked on the tomorrow night (the evening of Wednesday January 23 into early morning of Thursday January 24) should 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.

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 area and on the near east and near west sides.  Parkers should pay attention to all parking signs.

Parking will be 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.

More Information

Additional information about winter plowing and parking can be found on the city of Madison winter website, www.cityofmadison.com/winter.  Parking information can also be heard by calling the winter parking hotline at 608-261-9111.

Large Item and Christmas Tree Collections Delayed

Large item collections and Christmas tree collections will resume the week on January 28.

Due the anticipated snow event, the Streets Division's large item collection scheduled for the week of January 22 will be delayed. The anticipated start of the final round of Christmas tree collection will also be delayed. The personnel needed to perform these collections have been reassigned to the snowstorm response.

Residents who have placed large items to the curb for today's scheduled pickup can leave them in place until they are collected. Residents who have not yet placed large items to the curb are asked to hold them until their next scheduled pickup day. Streets Division crews will work next week to the collect the large items that have been placed to the curb.

Residents who have Christmas trees at the curb for the final pickup round should also leave them in place until this collection resumes. Residents who have yet to set their trees to the curb for pickup are encouraged to do so by January 28 so they do not miss their final collection opportunity.

Please remember to be sure your large items and Christmas trees do not become obstructed by snow or frozen in place so they can be collected when pick up services resume.

At this time, refuse and recycling collections scheduled for Tuesday, January 22, and the rest of the week, will continue as scheduled.

Large items and Christmas trees can also be dropped off at the Streets Division drop-off sites. The sites are open 7:30am to 3:00pm Monday to Friday. The sites are located at 1501 W. Badger Rd. and 4602 Sycamore Ave.

Additional information about Streets Division collections can be found at www.cityofmadison.com/streets, and additional winter information can be found at www.cityofmadison.com/winter.

As always, if there is anything I can do to help, feel free to reach out: district19@cityofmadison.com

-Keith F