City of Edmonton to try out odd/even parking restrictions for snow clearing

Editor’s note: This story originally said the even-numbered houses would be cleared first and the odd-numbered homes second. The odd-numbered homes will be cleared first. This story has been updated with the odd-numbered homes will be cleared first. 

Two Edmonton neighbourhoods have been selected as trial locations for changes to where drivers must park while the city is clearing their streets this winter.

Gold Bar and Silver Berry will see a new residential parking ban this winter that will see drivers able to park on one side of the street or the other, depending on whether the house number is an odd or an even number.

Councillor Moe Banga said these two neighbourhoods were chosen for the trial because of their different layouts.

“Gold Bar is basically grid-type and back alleys, however Silver Berry, on the other hand, is mostly front driveways and streets with boulevards,” he said.

After residential blading is declared, the side of the street where houses have odd numbers will be under a parking ban so city crews can come through and clear that side of the road. The next day, the parking ban would move to the side of the road with the even-numbered houses, and crews would clear that side.

According to a Friday news release, the goal is to always have the road cleared in two days.

Banga said he thinks the odd/even snow clearing technique will be a better alternative to a blanket parking ban.

“In the past, we had those snow removal days but it was hard for people to accommodate when you have both sides of the street banned for parking on the same day,” Banga said.

“This way it will be easier for people to accommodate their parking needs if they choose to do so.”

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Just like now, drivers could face a $100 ticket if their vehicle isn’t moved from the respective side of the road when blading is to begin.

The pilot project won’t affect accessible parking stalls and windrow-free zones, the city said. Those will be cleared as normal. Cul-de-sacs will be exempt from the program due to equipment limitations, the city said.

Banga said there may be a bit of confusion as the general public educates themselves on the new snow clearing technique, but pointed affected residents to two public information sessions.

Gold Bar
Date: Monday, Oct. 28
Time: 4 – 7 p.m. (Drop-in, no scheduled presentation)
Location: Gold Bar Community League, Social Room (Skate Shack), 4620 105 – Ave. NW

Silver Berry
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 29
Time: 4 – 7 p.m. (Drop-in, no scheduled presentation)
Location: Meadows Community Recreation Centre, Multi-purpose room 102, 2704 – 17 St.