Beginning 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25: Temporary On-Street Parking Ban

The City of Ann Arbor is declaring a temporary on-street parking ban beginning 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Washtenaw County calling for 4 to 6 inches of snow with the possibility of isolated locations receiving 7 inches.

The ban will remain in effect until residential plowing is complete, which will be announced on www.a2gov.org/snowparking and via the city’s social media channels.

The on-street parking ban will help crews clear streets more quickly and thoroughly. In extreme cold, packed snow on roads doesn’t melt, even with salt, so getting as much snow off of pavement with plows is critical for safety. Ann Arbor strives to clear all streets within 24 hours of the end of snowstorm.

Details and updates about the on-street parking ban, including a map of exempt streets and lots where residents can park for free during the ban, is available at www.a2gov.org/snowparking.

No ticketing or towing this time

Because this is the first time Ann Arbor has implemented an on-street parking ban in more than 22 years— and because of the health threat of extreme cold — the city will not issue tickets or tow during this event unless vehicles pose a safety risk or are otherwise parked illegally.

Community members should expect future on-street parking bans during snowstorms to include enforcement measures. Residents should use this weekend as an opportunity to come up with an off-street parking plan for future on-street parking bans.

Some streets, including those downtown, are exempt

Downtown streets and several other areas are exempt from the on-street parking ban. A map of exempt streets is available at www.a2gov.org/snowparking.

Where to park

• Check with neighbors: Residents with available driveway space should consider offering to share with neighbors who may not have off-street parking.
• Parks site parking: Free parking will be available for up to 48 hours after the ban takes effect at: Olson Park, Gallup Park and Bicentennial Park.
• Downtown parking structures: Free parking will be available at two city-owned parking structures: the Ann & Ashley Parking Structure, 220 N. Ashley St., and the Forest Avenue Parking Structure, 650 S. Forest Ave. Residents who need to temporarily park their vehicles may use the Ann Ashley and Forest parking structures at no charge, subject to the following conditions:
  • Drivers must pull a ticket upon entry and comply with all posted restrictions, including time- and permit-limited spaces.
  • When exiting, drivers should press the in-lane “Press for Assistance” button and tell the parking representative they are parking due to the snow parking ban. Drivers will be asked to provide their street address.
  • Parking is free if entry occurred after the ban announcement and exit occurs within 12 hours of the ban being lifted.
  • Standard hourly rates will apply for any parking time that occurs before the announcement and/or after 12 hours from the lifting of the ban.

Don’t expect clear pavement 

Due to the extreme cold, salt is ineffective at melting snow and ice. As a result, the city will be using sand in select locations where traction is especially critical, such as intersections and hills.

Even with the parking ban in effect, residents should not expect bare pavement on streets or bike lanes. Sustained cold temperatures have prevented normal melting cycles, resulting in a packed snow layer that plows cannot fully remove without risking damage to roads and equipment.

The purpose of the parking ban is to manage additional snowfall and prevent further deterioration of road conditions, not fully cleared road surfaces. Getting down to the pavement will require a period of warmer temperatures, which is not currently in the forecast.

Crews working day and night

The city recognizes winter conditions are difficult and, for some, extremely disruptive. City crews and equipment are working long hours under challenging circumstances, and patience from community members will be appreciated. Please also understand operators need appropriate rest for safety, and trucks must occasionally be taken out of service when components freeze or fail due to the cold.

In addition, crew members may also be diverted to utility emergencies, such as broken water mains, which are also critical to community health and safety. 

The city’s snowplow map allows anyone to track plows to see where they’ve been, where they are and what routes are next.

Curbside collections on Monday

Residents with Monday waste collection are asked to refrain from putting their carts at the curb until Monday morning. Having collection carts out overnight will delay the completion of plowing. Monday collection is still scheduled. 

# # # # #

Media Contact: 

Robert Kellar, Communications Specialist, rkellar@a2gov.org