St. Paul wants your snow emergency complaints

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - Do you have a problem with the way the city of St. Paul handles its snow emergencies? Think you have a better way to handle heavy snowfalls? It’s time to speak up!

The St. Paul Department of Public Works is reviewing its winter streets maintenance and snow emergency operations, and has hired an outside research firm to get feedback from residents. The city is particularly interested in:

1. Your expectations concerning winter street maintenance and snow emergencies.
2. Your perception of past snow emergency activities and winter street maintenance.
3. Your level of satisfaction with these services.

Current St. Paul snow emergency guidelines

Night Plow Routes - Snow emergencies begin with night plow routes at 9 p.m. the day of the declared snow emergency. Night Plow Routes are marked with signs that say "Night Plow Route" or "Night Plow Route this side of street." All of downtown Saint Paul is part of the Night Plow Route, even though no signs are posted.  Parking is banned on Night Plow Routes until the street is plowed full-width. Vehicles which are not moved from Night Plow Routes by 9 p.m. on the day of the declared snow emergency will be ticketed and towed.

Day Plow Routes - Snow emergencies continue with Day Plow Routes the morning following the declared snow emergency. Plowing starts after night routes are plowed, which is typically around 8 a.m. There are no signs on Day Plow Routes. Parking is banned on these routes until the street has been plowed full-width. Vehicles which are not moved from Day Plow Routes by 8 a.m. the day after the snow emergency has been declared will be ticketed and towed.

Tagging and towing - After the first two phases of the snow emergency are complete, follow-up plowing, sanding and salting and miscellaneous cleanup follows for as long as is required. Any vehicle parked in an area that has not been plowed full-width is subject to ticketing and towing for 4 days (or 96 hours) after the emergency has been declared.

Sign-up for St. Paul snow emergency alerts

Online at stpaul.gov/snow

Call 651-266-PLOW

Subscribe to SnowAlert and get an email and/or text when a snow emergency is declared.

Text "STPAUL SNOW" to 468311 to receive a text message when a snow emergency is declared.