Snow Emergency Declared for Friday Morning

Salem, MA - The City of Salem has declared a snow emergency that will go into effect on Friday, Feb. 5 at 7 a.m.. This snow emergency will remain in effect until further notice.

City officials are urging residents to move their vehicles off the street as early as possible as the city will be salting and sanding during the very early hours on Friday.

Please remember, during the Snow Emergency a parking ban is in effect, and vehicles must be totally removed from city streets and sidewalks or your vehicle will be ticketed and towed.

Also, note that vehicles must be removed from public and private parking lots, particularly at schools, immediately following the cancellation of the snow emergency (weekends included) or your car will be towed.

(It is extremely important that cars be removed from school parking lots as quickly as possible after the cancellation of the snow emergency even during the weekend.)

(FYI: It is the policy of the DPS that snow removal will not take place in alternative parking areas, particularly at parks, until snow operations on city streets are completed. Please plan your vehicular needs accordingly.

Please consult the City of Salem’s website www.salem.com or call the non-emergency snow information line at the police station at 978-744-0171 ext. 166 for information when the snow emergency parking ban will end.

For more information regarding Snow Emergency procedures please go to the Public Works Department page on salem.com for a copy of the City of Salem Snow Brochure.

Other Important Snow Information:

SIDEWALKS

The removal of the snow and ice from sidewalks is greatly appreciated. This will help school children, the elderly, and the general public from having to walk in the street. The City of Salem clears designated sidewalks following each storm. It takes time to accomplish this task and it is only done after all the roads have been cleared.

There are city ordinances requiring property owners to remove snow and ice from their bordering sidewalks within six hours after the snow ceases to fall or the city’s snow emergency lights are turned off, whichever time is later. If the snow ceases to fall and the snow emergency lights are turned off in the nighttime, the snow shall be removed before 12:00 noon. If he/she neglects to do so, he/she shall be fined $25 for 1st offense, $75 for 2nd offense and $100 for 3rd and subsequent offenses.

DRIVEWAYS

While the Department of Public Services tries to minimize the amount of snow that gets plowed across driveways and exits, it is unavoidable. Clearing driveway openings is the responsibility of the property owner.

Plow blades cannot be lifted as they pass by a driveway.

Unfortunately, snow will be plowed into driveways as we perform curb-to-curb plowing.

You may wish to clear your driveway several times during the storm or wait until the storm and plowing activities have ended.

Snowplowing, shoveling, or throwing snow back onto the street when clearing driveways and sidewalks is prohibited by City Ordinance and violators can be fined $75 for 1st offense, $150 for 2nd offense and $200 for 3rd and subsequent offenses.

CATCH BASINS

Help us stop street flooding by shoveling out catch basins near your home.

FIRE HYDRANTS

There are many Fire Hydrants in the City of Salem. Please help us Keep Salem Safe by shoveling around the hydrant near your home.

ALTERNATIVE DESIGNATED PARKING AREAS

The City of Salem offers alternative designated parking areas that include the following:

Museum Place Parking Garage* and the South Harbor Garage*. (Please note: Regular garage rates will be applied until the Snow Emergency time goes into effect. During a snow emergency, parking in the city garages is $5/24 hours, or any fraction thereof. Vehicles should be removed from the garage by the close of business the day the snow emergency concludes. Vehicles left in the garage after that time will begin to accrue charges at the regular hourly parking rate.)

Blaney Street Parking Lot (Salem Ferry Landing),

Forest River Park,

Gallows Hill lower,

Mack Park,

Broad Street Playground,

Castle Hill Playground,

Salem Willows Park, the Bentley School Lot,

the Carlton School Lot,

the Witchcraft Heights School Lot,

the Bates School Lot,

the Saltonstall parking area on Salem Street side only, and

the Collins Middle School - Jackson Street parking area.

Log onto http://tinyurl.com/salemsnowmap for an interactive map of the above-listed snow emergency parking locations. (*A monthly pass does not guarantee you a parking space in the garage.)

Please note: The Church Street parking lot (pay by plate) the Universal Steel lot on Bridge St., and the Bridge St. train station outside lot (pay by plate) are not snow emergency lots; and parking in Riley Plaza is by permit only. Permit fee for Riley Plaza is $25 per month and can be obtained at the Parking Department Office. Please call 978-745-8120 for more information. All other downtown municipal lots are for snow emergency use. Metered rates will apply at the official end time of a snow emergency.