City declares Snow Route parking ban to clear deep drifts

The city declared a Snow Route parking ban on Wednesday morning so crews can get in to clear priority routes.

A city-wide parking ban was called at 9:00 a.m. and will remain in effect for up to 72 hours.

Residents who regularly park their vehicles on the marked routes could face a fine and towing if they don't obey the ban.

Calgary parking officials say they handed out about 500 tickets so far.

It is the third year for the initiative and officials say Calgarians are finally getting the message.

"It's actually quite a bit better than last year." said Lorne Atkins. "I believe Calgarians are getting used to the declaration of the snow event."

An estimated 60,000 people living along snow routes were sent warnings back on November 22, informing them what to do when a snow event is declared.

Residents who are struggling to find a place to park their vehicles during the ban can use parkades and parking lots under the Calgary Parking Authority for overnight parking, but will need to find somewhere else to go during the day.

Vehicles can stay in ParkPlus zones located along snow routes, but will have to vacate those spots from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

City officials say that the snow route ban has changed since it was first enacted back in 2011.

The rules were reviewed and changed during a meeting back in September.

“The standard previously had been an accumulation of five centimetres or more, but that’s changed this year in the bylay,” says Julie Yepishina-Geller with the City of Calgary Transportation Department. “Now, it’s just a significant accumulation. So we are basically reserving parking bans for the few times a year where we actually do see significant snowfalls and you’re seeing things like snow drifts and vehicles snowed in and things like that.”

The fine for parking in snow routes is $75, but there are early pay options. The fine drops to $50 if you pay within 30 days or $40 if you pay within 10.

The last time the Snow Route parking ban was officially called was in January.

For more information on the City of Calgary's snow route parking ban, click here.

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  Calgary bylaw officers are giving out tickets to vehicles parked along designated Snow Routes.

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  The drifts are deep in SkyView Ranch and a Snow Route Parking Ban has been issued to clear major routes.

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  The effects of the City of Calgary's snow ban could be felt the most in the community of Skyview Ranch, which was hit hard in the snow storm earlier this week.

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  Crews will be going around the city to clear out all the snow on specified routes and some 60,000 Calgarians will need to make sure their vehicles are out of the way.

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  The city will tow and/or ticket drivers who don't move vehicles out of designated areas during a ban.