Madison Prepares for Snow and Extreme Cold

Lots of news to share as the forecast is predicting a big snow storm this evening and extreme temperatures this week. Updates include a declared snow emergency, no refuse pick up on Monday, delayed large item and Christmas tree pickup, and drop-off sites closed for the week of January 28th.

Summary

Mayor Soglin and City Department Heads met with the media today to outline precautions and operations that will be in effect in the City for possibly the next week. With a major snow beginning this evening and expected to last into morning drive tomorrow, motorists are being asked to use extreme caution.

Updates on services and conditions in the City will be posted on the City of Madison website. Please use this site before venturing out to a city office as well. Staffing may be at a minimum Monday morning and there is a chance that some offices may be closed.

• No trash and recycling on Monday.
  • Trash & recycling drivers will be reassigned to snow plowing duties
  • Residents should try to hold the material until there next scheduled day.
  • If they cannot wait, place their carts to the curb by 7 a.m. on Thursday
  • Streets will collect carts on either Thursday or Friday of this week for people who had their collections delayed.
• Streets Division drop-off sites closed all week due to extreme cold temperatures & activities related to the snowstorm response
  • Sites will reopen at 7:30 a.m. on February 4
  • Drop-off site personnel will be used to help with plowing
  • Drop-off sites are the same facilities where Streets stores sand and salt to use during winter events. With material deliveries and many plow trucks entering and exiting the site, it is best for public safety to avoid using the drop-off sites
• Large item collection suspended next week
  • Hold material until next scheduled pick up day
  • If material is already out, make sure it does not get obstructed by snow or frozen to the curb so it can be collected
• Christmas tree collection suspended until next week
  • Get trees out by 7am on February 4 – weather allowing
  • Make sure trees are accessible so we can pick them up
• Snow emergency declared
  • Residents MUST park on the even side of the street tonight if they cannot find off-street parking options
  • Please find off street parking
  • Violators may be ticketed and towed
  • Snow emergency ticket is $60
    • Additional tow fee added if vehicle is towed

Madison Declares Snow Emergency (1/27 to at least 1/29 @ 7am)

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 29.

Depending on road conditions, the snow emergency may be extended beyond January 29.

During the overnight hours this evening, Streets Division crews will plow and spread material on the main thoroughfares and additional crews will be brought in to 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 this entire week. 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 Monday, January 28 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 Monday morning.  However, due to the severity of this storm, it may take several more hours for all Madison roads to be cleared.

Parking on the Street Tonight (Sunday 1/27/19 into early morning of Monday 1/28/19)

All residents who must park on the street tonight (the evening of January 27 into early morning of January 28) 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.

Snow Emergency Towing in Effect

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)

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 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, for the second half of the snow emergency, parking on the ODD side 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.

Additional Information

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

Trash and Recycling Collection Suspended Monday Due to Snow

The Streets Division will suspend trash and recycling collection for Monday, January 28.

The 26 vehicle operators typically assigned to refuse and recycling will instead be reassigned to snow plowing duties.

Residents who have a Monday trash and recycling collection day should not place carts to the curb for pickup due to the significant winter event.

Residents who have a Monday refuse and recycling collection day should wait for their next scheduled day to place carts to the curb.

However, if residents have full carts and cannot wait until the next scheduled collection day, those with a Monday refuse and recycling pickup can set their carts out on Thursday, January 31. 

The Streets Division will work to collect carts set out in the Monday collection district on Thursday, January 31. 

If you are in the Monday collection district and set your cart out for collection on January 31 and collection does not occur, please keep your carts out and accessible.  The Streets Division will assign crews to check the Monday area again on Friday, February 1 to collect carts they could not empty the day before.

At this time, there are no planned delays for the other collection districts. However, the extreme cold temperature due to arrive later in the week may impact the refuse and recycling collection equipment and result in delays.  If the cold results in delays, another update will be provided.

For additional information regarding refuse and recycling collection, visit the Streets Division website, www.cityofmadison.com/streets.

Drop-off Sites Closed Due to Weather

The Streets Division drop-off sites will be closed during the week of January 28 due to the snowstorm and extreme cold to follow.

Streets Division staff typically assigned to maintain the drop-off sites will be reassigned to assist with snow plowing duties. 

The decision to close the sites for the week of January 28 was also made out of an abundance of caution for the public.  The drop-off sites are the same facilities used by the Streets Division to store salt and sand. Since salt and sand deliveries are expected this week, coupled with the increase of plow truck traffic through the site to load with material, and the dangerously cold temperatures predicted to arrive, it was decided to close the sites for this week.

Please note the drop-off sites the gates may be kept partially open to allow for truck traffic.  Even the gates are open, the drop-off sites are closed. Do not enter the drop-off site areas this week.

The drop-off sites are expected to reopen at 7:30am on Monday, February 4.  Once the sites reopen, they will be operate on their winter schedule.

Additional information about the drop-off sites, including locations, times for winter hours and the material accepted at the sites, can be found on the Streets Division website, www.cityofmadison.com/streets.

Large Item and Christmas Tree Collections Delayed

Large item collections and Christmas tree collections will resume the week on February 4

The Streets Division's large item collection scheduled for the week of January 28 will be suspended. The anticipated start of the final round of Christmas tree collection will also be delayed.

The personnel needed to perform these collections will be reassigned to the snowstorm response.

Residents who have placed large items to the curb for their scheduled pickup are encouraged to remove them from the curb so they do not become lodged in the snow.  Residents who have not yet placed large items to the curb are asked to hold them until their next scheduled pickup day.

Residents who have Christmas trees at the curb for the final pickup round are encouraged to remove them from the curb so they do not become lodged in the snow. Residents who have yet to set their trees to the curb for pickup are encouraged to do so by February 4 so they do not miss their final collection opportunity.

Large items and Christmas trees obstructed by snow or frozen in place cannot be collected when pick up services resume. Large items of Christmas trees left at the curb must be freed from the snow in order for them to be picked up.

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.

Due to weather conditions, Public Health Madison & Dane County offices and clinics will be closed Monday, January 28, 2019. This includes WIC, sexual health, and immunization clinics.

I recommend staying tuned to cityofmadison.com and cityofmadison.com/winter for additional updates.

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

-Keith F