Another Snow Emergency

I think it’s time for someone to place a curse on Old Man Winter. From Mayor Finch:

Mayor Finch Declares Snow Emergency Beginning at 3 p.m. Monday

In Effect Until Further Notice; Cars Must be Removed from Snow Emergency Street; Alternate Side of the Street Parking in Effect

In advance of the storm expected to begin late Monday evening, Mayor Bill Finch has declared a snow emergency beginning today [Monday] at 3 p.m. The snow emergency will remain in effect until further notice.

“It is imperative for everyone to heed our snow emergency and alternate side of the street parking rules during this upcoming storm. Our city public works crews have been working nonstop to clear the huge volume of snow deposited during the last several storms. We appreciate everyone’s efforts, and encourage everyone to do the right thing by their neighbors and clear their walkways and curb cuts, and most importantly, do not plow the snow back into the street once it has been cleared,” said Mayor Finch.

Residents must move their cars off posted snow emergency streets by 3 p.m. today. Snow emergency streets are marked with white signs with red lettering.

Alternate side of the street parking rules are in effect for all other streets until further notice. As of 7 p.m. Monday evening, residents should park their cars on the odd-numbered side of the street; and, since Tuesday, Feb. 1 is an odd-numbered day, residents can leave their cars parked on the odd-numbered side of the street until 7 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The City will enforce the snow emergency parking rules, which means Bridgeport police will ticket and/or tow vehicles that are left parked on snow emergency streets, and those improperly parked on all other streets.

Parking is available at several areas throughout the City including, the surface lots across the street from the Ballpark at Harbor Yard; North End Library; Veterans Memorial Park (entrance off Madison Avenue), Black Rock Bank and Trust; municipal lot adjacent to Ash Creek Saloon; City Health Department at 752 E. Main Street; lot adjacent to the former Waltersville School; Achievement First/Old Barnum School, the open area under Route 25/8 overpass at Main and Catherine Streets, and Lot H-commuter lot under I-95, entrance on Water St., is available from 7 p.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 3.

If schools are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, the following Board of Education parking lots also are available: Bassick and Central High Schools, Cesar Batalla, Park City Magnet, JFK Campus, Barnum/Waltersville, Blackham, Whittier, Jettie Tisdale and Luis Muñoz Marin schools. If school is in session on Thursday, the Mayor and the Superintendent of Schools ask the public’s cooperation in moving their cars as soon as possible so lots can be cleared for access by students and teachers.

The storm is expected to start as snow late Monday evening into Tuesday morning dropping two to four inches on the coast and three to six inches inland.

Current weather reports indicate that the snow may turn to freezing rain or sleet late Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning, causing up to a half-inch ice accumulation.

City officials echoed the state Department of Emergency Management’s call to residents and business owners to “clear the buildup of snow and ice from flat or low-pitch roofs and decks because this round of winter storms could add significantly to the amount of snow on rooftops, increasing the risk of collapse.”

Note from Bridgeport Police Dept.: Cars left parked on snow emergency streets will be subject to tagging and towing if parked in violation after 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31. Violating the alternate side of the street parking rules also will result in fines. The fine for violating the snow emergency rules is $75; towing fees are extra.

A list of snow emergency streets can be found on the City’s website by following this link: www.bridgeportct.gov/pages/NewsDetails.aspx?itemid=144. (See attached list of snow emergency streets.)

Note from Department of Public Works: Regularly scheduled trash/recyclable pickups have been canceled until further notice. The Transfer Station also will be closed until further notice.

Note from Greater Bridgeport Transit: Bus riders should check www.gogbt.com for latest service updates.

Shelter information: Anyone in need of shelter should call 2-1-1 for assistance.

Emergency evacuation shelters: The following schools will be available for emergency evacuations: Luis Muñoz Marin and Longfellow elementary schools and Bassick and Central High Schools.

Snow emergency reminders:

• During the snow emergency all city residents should heed alternate side of the street parking rules until the snow emergency has been lifted. For example, on odd-numbered days, (Jan. 31), residents should move their cars to the odd-numbered side (house numbers ending in 1,3,5,7 and 9) of the street by 7 a.m. • During the storm, residents with snow-plowing concerns should call 203.576.1311 or 203.579.3829.
• The Department of Public Works reminds all residents and business owners to shovel the sidewalk and walkways, including curb cuts, for pedestrian safety. If sidewalks are not cleared, the City may clean the sidewalk and charge the owner a fee for doing so, as well as impose a $100 per day fine for violating a City ordinance.
• Please do not shovel, or use a snow blower or plow to throw snow back into the street from your driveway or sidewalk. Anyone found throwing snow back into the street will be subject to a fine.
• Private snow removal contractors should not plow snow onto City streets. Any contractors found doing so will be fined.
• Residents and business owners are also asked to clear fire hydrants, and the immediate area around it, of snow to improve neighborhood safety.