Portland preps residents for winter parking ban alerts

Sure, November was pretty warm for the most part and the sun is shining over Portland as I write this. But we all know what’s coming, and the city of Portland is doing its annual outreach to make sure residents are aware of all the ways they can plug in to be notified of parking bans.

When the snow flies, there will be times when you can’t park on city streets because the plows will need to get through. (Insert sarcastic “breaking news” music here.)

So anyway, if you’re not already signed up for one of the ways the city notifies folks of when cars can’t be parked in certain places, or you don’t already have a way to learn about those announcements you’ve grown to be confident in over the years (television storm coverage, for instance), you might want to consider preparing. The last thing you want is to see your car towed off in the middle of a blizzard.

Here’s the city’s announcement, issued this morning:

With winter right around the corner, the city of Portland wants to remind residents and visitors that they can sign up online at www.portlandmaine.gov to receive email notices from the city when a city-wide parking ban is implemented. People can also get parking ban updates by either becoming a fan of Portland Cityline on Facebook, receiving tweets from @PortlandCitylin at www.twitter.com, or tuning in to the local news. Motorists can also call the parking ban hotline at 879-0300 or check the Time and Temperature sign for up-to-date postings.

A city-wide parking ban is called when weather impacts the city’s ability to carry out its winter storm operations and ensure that roads are safe for travel. When a parking ban is declared, all vehicles must be off city streets by 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following day (times may vary depending upon the severity of the weather). Vehicles left on the street during a ban will be towed at the owner’s expense (tow fee — $70, impound fee — $35, ticket cost — $30 and all outstanding tickets must be paid. Vehicles not claimed within 24 hours will be charged $25 storage fee per day). Vehicles will be towed to the city’s impound lot located at the Ocean Gateway International Marine Terminal at 40 Commercial Street (phone number 774-3025). At the end of the day following a parking ban, unclaimed vehicles will be towed to private tow company lots, and storage fees of $25 per day will accrue.

There are a number of places people can park at no charge during a parking ban including:

  • Deering Oaks – on the left hand side of Tennis Court Road only
  • State Street gravel lot – abutting Deering oaks
  • Fitzpatrick Stadium parking lot
  • Hadlock Field parking lot
  • All Portland Public School lots except the lot at Reiche School which abuts the school and playground
  • Parking lot at Nathan Clifford School
  • Parking lots on Munjoy and Wilson Streets, formerly known as the Adams School
  • Cutter Street lots (off the Eastern Prom)
  • Beach Street lot accessible from Commercial Street (This lot is available after 8 P.M.)
  • Lot across the street from the International Marine Terminal on Commercial Street (corner of Park and Commercial Streets)
  • Dougherty Field
  • Many parking garages in the area are open for parking bans at reduced rates – check with individual garages for rates and hours

Vehicles can begin to park in these designated areas at 5 p.m. the night a parking ban is declared. Vehicles must be moved from the city lots by 7 a.m. the morning the ban is lifted.

The city can also declare a “Yellow Zone” parking ban for the downtown area only, starting at 10 p.m. and ending at 6 a.m.. When a yellow ban is announced, parking is prohibited from Franklin Arterial to State Street and Commercial Street to Cumberland Avenue.

Seth Koenig

About Seth Koenig

Seth has nearly a decade of professional journalism experience and writes about the greater Portland region.