Phase 1 parking ban declared in Edmonton after weekend snowfall

A Phase 1 seasonal parking ban will go into effect in Edmonton at 11 p.m. Monday after a weekend snowfall left about five to 10 centimetres of the white stuff on city streets.

This parking ban is for major roads and bus routes and the city said Phase 1 is anticipated to last three to five days, weather permitting.

As of Monday, the city did not expect to declare a Phase 2 ban that would see snowplows and graders move into neighbourhoods.

During a Phase 1 ban, drivers are not allowed to park on arterial or collector roads, or in the city’s 13 business improvement areas until after they have been cleared.

Drivers also cannot park on bus routes or any roads that have “Seasonal No Parking” signs. Drivers are still allowed to park on residential roads that do not have those signs during a Phase 1 ban.

Crews and equipment will be working around the clock until Phase 1 roads are clear.

“Edmonton has seen a fair amount of snow over the last few days and while crews have been out, a parking ban allows more effective and efficient clearing,” Val Dacyk, Parks and Roads Services general supervisor of infrastructure field operations, said in a statement.

“We know the holiday season is a busy time and we want to ensure the roads are safe and accessible in advance of this weekend.”

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More parking ban enforcement

Drivers parked illegally during a seasonal parking ban this winter face steeper fines than in previous years.

In November, city council unanimously voted in favour of increasing the fine for seasonal parking ban infractions from $100 to $250.

The city said it is going to be actively ticketing and towing more this year.

In previous seasons, the city has relied on education rather than enforcement when it comes to seasonal parking bans.

On Monday, the city said enforcement officers will in areas ahead of slow clearing crews, issuing tickets to vehicles that are parked in banned areas.

Towing will also be done in areas the city said has historically seen lower compliance. If your vehicle is towed, the city said it will be moved to the nearest cleared roadway and can be found by contacting 311.

2:01 City of Edmonton promises better snow clearing this winter

The city implemented a two-phase parking ban system two years ago.

Here’s how it works:

• Phase 1: Arterial and collector roads, bus routes (roads marked with seasonal no parking signage) and business improvement areas are cleared. Drivers may continue to park on their residential street that do not have a seasonal parking ban sign on it during Phase 1
• Phase 2 (begins after Phase 1 but only if declared): Residential and industrial roads are cleared. Drivers may park in their driveway, in a parking space on a neighbours’ property with their permission, or on any road cleared during Phase 1 where parking is allowed normally

For each phase, parking will be allowed on roads again once they are cleared. You do not have to wait for the city to end the ban before parking on a cleared road.

Edmontonians can sign up for text or email notifications to be alerted when a parking ban is put in place and when crews will be in their area.

The city said it will provide an update later this week as crews finalize Phase 1 work.

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— More to come…