Kenney: Move Cars Off Snow Emergency Routes Or Get Towed

If your car is parked on a snow emergency route, the city has one message for you: Move it.

The city is declaring a snow emergency at 9 p.m., which means emergency routes must be cleared of parked cars at that time. If your car isn’t moved by 9 tonight, the city will ticket it and tow it to another location. Snow emergency routes are listed on signs, as well as on the Streets Department’s website. There will be 400 plows and 600 workers salting and plowing the streets this weekend.

“Please do not park on the snow emergency routes,” PPA Executive Director Vince Fenerty said. “We don’t want to tow you. But in the interest of keeping the city open, we have to do our jobs.” Starting at 5 p.m., the PPA is offering $5-a-day parking at all of its garages. That will continue until at least 7 a.m. on Monday morning. Cars left on snow emergency routes will be issued a $125 ticket and towed to an alternate location. If your car does get towed, call 215-686-SNOW to find out where it is.

Mayor Jim Kenney, who spoke with other city officials at a press conference this afternoon, said he wants Philadelphians to stay inside during the storm. About 12 to 18 inches are expected this weekend, with wind gusts ranging from 25 to 45 miles per hour.

“I suggest the Netflix, pay-per-view, make sure you’re all stocked up. Don’t go out until it’s safe to do so,” Kenney said. “I wish I were The Cat in the Hat and I could put all the snow back into the hat and make it all better again.”

As Kenney also said yesterday, Philadelphians are urged to keep two numbers in mind during the snowstorm:

• Project HOME, 215-232-1984. Anyone who sees a homeless person sleeping on the street during the storm should call this number. They’ll be asked for a description of the person and the location.
• ACCT, 267-385-3800. It is against the law to leave an animal tied up outside in the snow or extreme cold. There is a $500 fine for residents who do this. People who see animals tied up outside in the show should call ACCT.

After the snow stops, residents must shovel at least a three-foot path on their sidewalks. They are encouraged to shovel during the storm to make it easier. Friday trash collection, which was scheduled to be picked up on Saturday due to the MLK Day holiday, has been canceled. Residents with Friday trash collection are asked to hold it until next Friday.

There are lots of closures in the city on Saturday. Philadelphia is shutting down all libraries and recreation centers. SEPTA is suspending all services except the Market-Frankford El and the Broad Street Subway. PHL Airport has canceled all flights. Anyone traveling Sunday is asked to call 1-800-PHL-GATE or visit PHL.org to check on their flights.

We also have a big list of what’s shutting down this weekend for the impending storm.

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