From city Communications Director Av Harris:
In anticipation of the pending winter storm due to impact Bridgeport beginning early tomorrow morning, Mayor Joe Ganim today declared a snow emergency for the city to take effect at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday January 23, 2016.
During the snow emergency, residents must move their cars off posted snow emergency streets. Alternate side of the street parking rules are in effect as of midnight tonight for all other streets throughout the city in order to allow snow plow drivers’ clear passage. Since the emergency is being declared as of tomorrow morning, tomorrow will be odd side of the street parking. Sunday January 24th will be even side parking day and alternate side parking will be in effect until further notice. Snow emergency streets are marked with white signs with red lettering. A list of snow streets can be found on the City’s website by clicking here or the full link:
www.bridgeportct.gov/content/89019/89753/95485/95497.aspx
No parking is allowed on snow emergency streets. Vehicles left on snow emergency streets after the ban goes into effect will be subject to fines and towing. Commercial and/or residential owners who push snow into the streets or do not clear snow on the sidewalks in front of their buildings are subject to a $100.00 fine per ordinance for each incidence. Current forecasts from the National Weather Service predict that Bridgeport will receive a total of 4-6″ of snow that will begin to fall Saturday morning January 23rd.
“This is our first significant snowstorm of the current winter season, and we want to make sure everyone is safe and warm. The city of Bridgeport is ready to keep the roads clear and handle whatever emergencies arise,” said Mayor Ganim. “I want to encourage everyone who can to stay indoors and off the roadways. If you need to travel, please drive slowly and watch out for pedestrians. I also want to remind any pedestrians walking in the roadways due to non-shoveled sidewalks to please stay alert to on-coming traffic. I am also asking all property owners to please shovel the sidewalks around your homes and help clear snow around the fire hydrants to insure access for the fire department in the case of a fire.”
During the storm, residents may call the Bridgeport Emergency Operations Center hotline at 203-579-3829 with any snow-related emergencies. If any residents suffer a loss of electric power, they can call the United Illuminating customer hotline at 800-722-5584. Both hotline numbers will be fully staffed and operating 24 hours a day during the snow emergency. Snow emergency parking areas are available throughout the City. A full list of parking areas can be found at the following link:
www.bridgeportct.gov/content/89019/89753/95485/95501.aspx. Parking in the school parking lots listed will be permitted beginning this evening.
For the latest updates, resources and information about the snowstorm, residents are asked to check www.bridgeportct.gov/bptsnow, local television and radio news outlets and follow the City of Bridgeport on Twitter and Facebook.
Will cars actually be towed, or will this be a toothless tiger?
It’s 6 inches, big deal!
The forecast looks a little different today. The first plow has already made a couple of passes down my street and I am grateful for a focus on services to the taxpayer.
*** Let’s hope for the best, no? ***
*** Hit it hard and often throughout the entire storm along with odd and even emergency street parking to help with the snow plowing, no? ***
Unfortunately, most people completely ignore any snow emergency directives. That is why curb-to-curb plowing is a joke in Bridgeport.
Where’s Bill Finch now that we need him!
*** Well so far the Ganim Admin’s snow posses are doing a good job with the snowplowing of the main roads! Let’s hope they stay with it all weekend, no? ***