Philadelphia Declares Snow Emergency For Thursday

Philadelphia will be placed under a snow emergency Thursday, Feb. 9, which means residents need to be aware of various changes throughout the city during the day.

The snow emergency, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning, means all parked cars must be moved off Snow Emergency routes for plowing.

Citizens who are moving their cars from snow emergency routes should park as far from the corner of the street as possible, as the city said vehicles parked too close to the corner get in the way of turning snow plows.

See the city's map of snow emergency routes here.

To ease vehicle owners' potential pain, the Philadelphia Parking Authority will not enforce meter and time limit violations after 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, but it will enforce all snow emergency and safety violations.

Vehicles illegally parked on snow emergency routes after midnight tonight will be subject to ticketing and towing.

However, the PPA is offering discounted parking in Center City parking garages starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday through the end of the snow emergency, where drivers can park for just $5 by bringing their ticket and pay at the PPA Management Office in each garage.

The $5 24-hour rate is available at these garages:

• AutoPark at Independence Mall (5th & Market Streets)
• AutoPark at Jefferson (10th & Ludlow Streets)
• Autopark at the Gallery Mall (10th & Filbert Streets)
• Autopark at 8th & Filbert Streets Garage (801 Filbert Street)
• AutoPark at Old City (2nd & Sansom Streets)
• Philadelphia Family Court Garage (1503-11 Arch Street – Going south on 15th Street, enter the garage on the west side just after 15th & Cherry St.)
• Gateway Garage (enter from Spring Street between 15th & 16th Streets)

The city is urging citizens who must travel Thursday to use extreme caution and plan for extra travel time to ensure safety.

SEPTA will be posting real-time updates on any changes to its schedules on its website and its Twitter feed.

The city has also cancelled trash collection Thursday.

In response to the forecasted snow, the city's Streets Department crews will be out in force in advance of the snow, around midnight, to salt primary and secondary roadways, according to Mayor Jim Kenney's office. Crews will begin plowing as the snow accumulates and will treat and plow side streets and neighborhood streets as conditions permit.

Residents are encouraged to follow the city's Office of Emergency Management Twitter and Facebook feed throughout the day for updates.

Head over to the city's website to learn for more details on the snow emergency, including airport tips, homeless services, emergency call centers, and more.

Patch file photo