More than 1,500 tickets issued so far during snow route parking ban

The Calgary Parking Authority says 1,527 tickets have been handed out in relation to the citywide snow route parking ban as of noon Thursday.

The city has been working to clean up roads after an early fall snowstorm dumped nearly 40 centimetres on Calgary and surrounding areas earlier this week.

"We saw an overwhelming amount of snow. I think it was the most snow on a single day in 104 years," said city spokesman Chris McGeachy.

Crews and equipment from Edmonton, Red Deer, Okotoks and Medicine Hat descended on Calgary to help with the road-clearing efforts.

Parking ban ends Friday

The city says the snow route parking ban, whichcame into effect Wednesday at 10 a.m., will be lifted at 6 a.m. on Friday (Oct. 5).

Vehicles must be kept off streets designated as a snow route for 24 hours per day until a ban is lifted. Vehicles left on those routes can be ticketed or towed.

TroyMcLeod, the director of roads, said onWednesday crews finished clearingPriority1 routes that morning and were moving on to Priority 2 routes. He saidthey expect to get to Priority 3 and 4 routes in the next few days.

The ban was called for 72 hours, but the ban is being lifted 28 hours earlier than anticipated sincesnow clearing on the snow routes is nearly complete, the city says.

"We had some great help from our neighbours in Edmonton, Medicine Hat, Red Deer and Okotoks," said McGeachy.

"Also, the warm weather has helped us. We expect there will be more warm weather in the coming days and that's really going to help move things along."

Snowflake signs are posted along city snow routes, and residents can go online to find out if their street is affected.

McGeachy said residents should make sure snow that has been shoveled is away from foundation and not blocking eavestrough outlets.

Snowflake signs are posted along city snow routes, and residents can go online to find out if their street is affected.

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