City of Duluth details snow emergency and other winter plans

The City of Duluth detailed many of the new plans for dealing with snow with during a "City Hall in the City: Let’s Talk Snow" informational event Tuesday evening.

After putting up the thousands of signs to designate snow emergency routes, this is the first year the city will be able to declare snow emergencies.

Now, the City Public Works and Utilities Director Jim Benning will have the daily power up to declare a snow emergency by 4:00 p.m.

If one is declared, people who have cars along designated snow emergency routes will then have from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. to move those cars.

From 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Duluth Police and Parking Enforcement will ticket and tow remaining vehicles in snow emergency routes.

Plows will then clear the routes from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

If the emergency isn’t extended, normal parking can then resume at 6:00 p.m.

"Our intent was that each neighborhood would have at least a few snow emergency routes in their neighborhood so people could get out and have access to the major hubs in the city even during a snow storm," said Benning.

Snow emergency statuses will be put out on the city’s social media, website, and by WDIO.

Snow emergency parking lots will also start their pilot program this winter.

The city also detailed changes to sidewalk clearing this winter saying that city staff will no longer clear private sidewalks that adjacent from high traffic public business areas.

All households will be mailed the complete details of all the changes and policies that will be taking affect this winter season.