January 24: Snow Plowing Update, Snow Emergency Continues

Snow Plowing Update: January 24, 2022 6:45 am

Be prepared for a very difficult and slippery morning commute throughout Madison, and for most of this week. If you must be on the roads this morning or in the coming days, you must be slow, patient, and alert. Make good choices.
 
Give yourself ample travel time to get to your destinations.  Also, anticipate your turns and stops so you do not slide.  
 
With the arrival of more snow last night paired with temperatures too cold for the Streets Division to apply salt, all Madison roads are very slippery and snowy. Plow trucks have been out since the start of the storm applying sand where needed, but slippery conditions remain.  Trucks will remain out to help clean up from this storm.
 
This includes the main thoroughfares, such as those roads used by Madison Metro for bus routes.
 
Residential streets will also be snow-covered and slick with the snow.  
 
Temperatures may become warm enough to apply salt to the main thoroughfares later this morning – however, the very cold temperatures will slow salt's ability to work, and it may only provide minimal assistance.  And temperatures for the middle of the week are expected to be well below salt's effective threshold, too.  
 
Residential streets are not salted and they will remain snow-covered.
 
You should expect to encounter persistent snowy, slippery conditions for all Madison roadways for most of this week. Be prepared and be safe on the roads. Conditions are difficult and will remain challenging.

Streets Division staff will continue to monitor the roads and the weather. Additional updates will be provided.

Snow Emergency Continues Tonight (1/24/22 to 1/25/22)

A snow emergency will be in effect for the City of Madison again tonight, January 24, 2022.
 
When parking your vehicle tonight, please choose off-street parking options for their vehicles again this evening, especially those within the Snow Emergency Zone. 
 
If you cannot find an off-street option, everyone who must park a vehicle on the street during the overnight hours, including residents in the Snow Emergency Zone, must follow alternate side parking regulations.
 
Plow vehicles are also using daytime parking restrictions to clear snow back to the curb.  You must follow these posted parking rules as well as the overnight alternate side parking rules.
 
Plow trucks will be working through the day and through the night to push back snow from areas not blocked by parked cars.
 
Failure to follow any parking rule may result in your vehicle being ticketed and potentially towed.
 
 
Parking on the Street Tonight
Vehicles parked on the street tonight (Monday, January 24 into the early morning of Tuesday, January 25) should be on the ODD house-numbered side of the street between the hours of 1 a.m. and 7 a.m.
 
Violations of the alternate side parking rules are punishable by a fine of $60 throughout the entire City of Madison.
 
Violators may also be towed. If a vehicle is towed, an additional towing fee will be added to the parking ticket.
 
Other Parking Information
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.
 
 
The Importance of Following Parking Rules During a Snow Emergency
The first evening of snow emergency parking resulted in 438 parking tickets being issued.
 
In just looking at the vehicles ticketed for not following alternate side parking rules during the snow emergency, the violators created over one mile of road along the curb that could not be cleared from snow last night.
 
Failure to follow parking rules in the winter creates streets that become too narrow. This can make them impassable for emergency vehicles, trash & recycling collectors, plow trucks, and even standard passenger vehicles.
 
You must follow the alternate side parking rules when applicable, and posted daytime restrictions, so snow can be pushed back to keep roads wide and safe.
 
 
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.
 
 
Declared Snow Emergency

The City of Madison declares a Snow Emergency when we need to plow all residential streets. This most often happens when there are three or more inches of snow on the roads.

During a Snow Emergency, people who park in the Snow Emergency Zone must follow alternate side parking rules for the next two nights. A Snow Emergency may be extended past the 48 hours if needed.

We will always declare a Snow Emergency before 9:00 pm on the night it will take effect.

Please note: During a Snow Emergency, Alternate Side Parking fines are $60, plus a $65 towing fee.