City of Albany Declares Snow Emergency to Begin Friday, December 18 at 8:00 a.m.

Mayor Sheehan Closes All City Buildings to Public Thursday

Mayor Sheehan Urges Residents to Stay Off Roads

Please be advised the City of Albany has issued a SNOW EMERGENCY that will begin on Friday, December 18, at 8:00 a.m. At that time, all normal parking rules and regulations are temporarily suspended.

• During the first 24 hours of the snow emergency, all vehicles must be parked on the even numbered side of the street.

• Beginning Saturday, December 19, at 8:00 a.m., all vehicles must be parked on the odd numbered side of the street for the next 24-hour period

• Vehicles may begin to park on the odd numbered side of the street for the second 24-hour period beginning Saturday, December 19 at 7:00 a.m.

If you are parked on the wrong side of the street during the snow emergency, your vehicle will be ticketed and may be towed.

After the second 24-hour period, please stay tuned for further announcements.  For SNOW EMERGENCY information, call 518-476-SNOW (7669) or visit the City of Albany’s website at albanyny.gov, facebook.com/AlbanyMayorKathySheehan, instagram.com/AlbanyMayorKathySheehan, and twitter.com/MayorSheehan

“Reports originally anticipated today’s snow storm would conclude early this morning, however the late shift in weather patterns have extended the duration of the storm well into the early afternoon, and has already led to significantly higher snowfall totals than expected,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “The City’s Department of General Services employees have been working around the clock since the first snow fell, however the rapid increase in snowfall over the last several hours has made travel especially difficult. Please stay off the roads and allow our DGS crews the space needed to safely and efficiently clear the snow.”

Important Contacts During the Snow Emergency:

• For SNOW EMERGENCY information, call 518-476-SNOW (7669) or visit the City of Albany’s website at albanyny.gov, facebook.com/AlbanyMayorKathySheehan, instagram.com/AlbanyMayorKathySheehan, and twitter.com/MayorSheehan

• For general snow inquiries call the Department of General Services at 518-434-CITY (2489).

• To report power outages and determine area repair schedules, call National Grid at 800-642-4272.

• In an emergency, call 911.

• To receive text and/or email alerts about a snow emergency, please sign up for Nixle alerts at: http://www.albanyny.org/Government/Departments/PoliceDepartment/Nixle.aspx.

• For real-time weather information, visit the National Weather Service.

During the SNOW EMERGENCY, the City of Albany has made available additional parking at various lots throughout the City:

ARBOR HILL/SHERIDAN HOLLOW

• Parking Area Adjoining Arbor Hill Softball Field (North Lark St.) • 230 Colonie St. (Playground Lot) • 178 Colonie St. (Playground Lot) • Ten Broeck Mansion (Parking Lot & Sidewalk West End) • Quackenbush Garage (Please see note below regarding limited availability)

PINE HILLS

• Ridgefield Park (Enter on Partridge St.) • Woodlawn Park Little League • Waterson Park (Westland Hills) Enter on Colvin Ave.

CENTER SQUARE

• Washington Park (All Roadways and Parking Areas)

SOUTH END

• Krank Park Area
• Franklin St. (Between Schuyler St. & Bassett St. – East Side) • Lincoln Park (All Interior Roadways & Parking Area)

CENTER SQUARE/MANSION

• 77 Philip St. (Playground)
• 88 Philip St. (Playground)

NORTH ALBANY

• North Second St. & North Third St. (Above Pearl St.) • Parking Area across from North Albany American Legion Post

WEST END

• Bleecker Stadium (Parking Area & Roadways) • North Side of Livingston Ave. (Opposite Judson St.) Parking Lot

Conflict Streets:

Signs have been installed on streets throughout the City that have both odd and even numbered addresses, or no addresses at all, indicating what side of the street is even and what side is odd for purposes of snow emergencies.  Please take notice of these signs when moving your vehicle during the Snow Emergency.

Zone C Residential Permit Parking Holders:

During a SNOW EMERGENCY and for 24 hours after the end of a SNOW EMERGENCY, individuals with a residential parking permit in Zone C will be allowed to park for free in the Quackenbush Garage (Orange Street between Broadway and Water Street).

For individuals with Zone C permits (Ten Broeck Triangle, Clinton Avenue, N. Hawk Street, Hall Place), levels 4, 5, and 6 are available for parking at the Quackenbush Garage.

To utilize the free parking within the Quackenbush Garage, the resident must take a ticket upon entering the garage.  When exiting, the resident must go to customer service where they must confirm their last name and plate number.  Only one ticket will be validated per plate number and last name.

Vehicle Towing:

If your vehicle has been towed, call Albany Police Department at 518-438-4000, Center Station 518-458-5660, or South Station 518-462-8049 for information on how to retrieve your vehicle.

City Buildings:

Mayor Sheehan has announced she has declared a State of Emergency in the City of Albany effective 6:00 AM. All City of Albany Buildings, including City Hall, will be closed to the public Thursday, December 17.

Sidewalk Snow Removal:

It is imperative that property owners keep the sidewalks adjacent to their property clear for pedestrians in wheelchairs and pedestrian walkers to safely pass by. According to City Code 323-21, it is the responsibility of all property owners’ and/or residents to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks and accessibility ramps adjacent to their property within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm.

If your sidewalk is not in compliance within 24 hours of the last snowfall, the Department of General Services may clear the sidewalk of snow and ice, and the property owner will be issued a bill for the cost of removal and charged a fine.

Other Snow Event Information:

Snow emergency brochures, which outline all Snow Emergency procedures, can be found here:

http://www.albanyny.gov/Libraries/General_Services/When_it_Snows_in_Albany_Flyer.sflb.ashx

Thank you for your cooperation.