Saint Paul Declares Special Winter Parking Rules to Launch a New Snow Operations Pilot

Saint Paul, MN - The City of Saint Paul's Public Works Department is exploring new ways to manage citywide snow operations to keep all streets safe and passable during the winter months. As a part of this ongoing work, Public Works announced they will pilot a new snow operations model - a weekly alternating one-sided parking cycle - this season. There will be two small pilot areas in the Payne-Phalen and Highland Park neighborhoods. All vehicles will have to park according to the alternating side schedule. The pilots begin on Sunday, February 2, 2025, and continue through Saturday, April 12, 2025.

"Snow events truly require an 'all in' response from multiple city departments," said Sean Kershaw, Director of Saint Paul Public Works. "With the Mayor's support and willingness to look at snow operations differently, these initial pilots will provide operational data and feedback from our residents about how we can do plowing differently in the future."

Within the designated pilot areas, all vehicles must adhere to the weekly alternate side parking rules. During the "even" weeks, vehicles may only be parked on the side of the street with even-numbered addresses (typically located on the south and east sides of the streets). During the "odd" weeks, vehicles may only be parked on the side of the street with odd-numbered addresses (typically located on the north and west sides of the streets). Sundays are the "changeover" days. Within the pilot areas, each Sunday between 3-9 p.m. people should move their cars to the other side of the street.

Week	Dates	Parking Rules
EVEN	2/2; 2/16; 3/2; 3/16; 3/30	No parking on the side of the street with odd-numbered addresses
ODD	2/9; 2/23; 3/9; 3/23; 4/6	No parking on the side of the street with even-numbered addresses

Detailed alternate one-sided parking maps for odd and even weeks pilot areas can be found online at www.stpaul.gov/NewSnow.

One potential advantage of a weekly alternate one-sided parking cycle is that it keeps at least two-thirds of a residential street open at all times. This provides better access for all emergency vehicles and allows Public Works to more regularly access and plow residential streets the entire winter, compared to just 24 hours when a Snow Emergency is declared.

Payne-Phalen Pilot Area

The Payne-Phalen neighborhood pilot area boundaries are Maryland Avenue to the north, Desoto Street to the east, Case Avenue to the south, and Mississippi Street to the west.

With the bike lanes, Arkwright Street has no parking on the odd side (west side) of the street at any time. During designated odd-weeks, parking on the even side (east side) of Arkwright Street will be allowed during the day, but there will be no parking overnight from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. This street will be signed accordingly.

Highland Park Pilot Area

The Highland Park neighborhood pilot area boundaries are Ford Parkway to the north, Snelling Avenue to the east, Montreal Avenue to the south, and Fairview Avenue to the west.

On Ford Parkway and Montreal Avenue, parking will be allowed on both sides during the day, but the weekly alternating overnight parking schedule will apply between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. These streets will be signed accordingly.

Education and Enforcement of the Pilot Areas

The perimeter of both pilot areas will be signed, and regular flyering of vehicles will occur throughout the pilot period. The first two weeks of the pilots, February 2-16, is an education period. Vehicle parked in the pilot areas will receive informational flyers and maps to explain the weekly alternating parking rules. Starting February 17, the city will begin ticketing - and towing if needed - vehicles that are not parked according to the pilot area parking rules.

If a Snow Emergency is declared during the pilot period, February 2 - April 12, vehicles located inside the pilot areas are to follow the pilot area parking rules; Snow Emergency rules do not apply in the pilot areas. Snow Emergency parking rules will apply for the rest of the city.

For more information about the new alternating one-sided parking pilot areas, including detailed parking maps for the pilot areas and schedules, visit www.stpaul.gov/NewSnow.

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Last Edited: January 22, 2025