News

City: Parking rules apply, despite snowed-in cars

The city of Madison continues cleaning snow off its streets while preparing for more after two storms hit the city this week.

The mayor's office met Wednesday with leaders of different departments of the city, including the Streets Division, City Engineering, Parks Division, Building Inspection and Metro Transit, to discuss how well-prepared the city would be for the next snowfall.

"We are just making sure that we are making all the adjustments that are necessary so that we can take care of the next round of snow as quickly and efficiently as we can," said George Twigg, communications director for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz.

The street clean-up crews, composed of both city workers and private contractors, continue to work around the clock to make sure the streets get cleared.

"[The snow Tuesday] put everything behind a day. We had to stop scraping ice off the streets so that we could go into full-scale mode, which means plowing all of the 1,700 lane miles around Madison," said Alan Schumacher, Madison's streets superintendent.

Madison issued a snow emergency Tuesday in expectation of the snow to come, which will stay in effect until at least 7 a.m. today.

"There are a number of factors that contribute to calling a snow emergency, such as the amount of snowfall that is expected and if the snow is going to be heavy enough," Twigg said.

Residents have been asked to move cars off the streets altogether if possible, but alternate parking rules have taken effect for those cars still on the streets. The night before an even date, for example, cars should be parked on the even house numbered side of the street for the next day.

"The point of alternate parking is basically so that we can get the streets cleared and everyone can park," Twigg said.

Madison parking enforcement officers have been writing citations for vehicles that have not been following alternate parking, and also for vehicles that have not been moved since the storm.

"So far we have written 3,249 alternate-side parking fines for $20 each, and since Nov. 15 we have written 1,209 $30 parking citations. We have been marking tires on cars that have not been moved and if a car is declared abandoned, it will be towed," said Joel DeSpain, public information officer for the Madison Police Department. "This will cost the owner $125 because of the towing and the ticket."

Cars that are considered abandoned after being left for 48 hours will be towed to city lots.

"There has not been a mass towing, so far, but lots of cars have been issued citations," DeSpain said.

The Madison Fire Department is calling on citizens to help do their part during these winter storms by helping to clear ice and snow from fire exits.

"One inspector encountered six exits that were frozen shut in one day," said Bernadette Galvez, public information officer for the fire department. "The fire escape is a way out, and if it is frozen shut, there is potential for them to be trapped."

Fines for blocked fire escapes start at $172, according to the MFD.