Skip to Content
  • Contact Us
  • Text Size

 allentownpa.gov - Metro Government of Allentown (Print logo)

News Archive

News Archive

Snow Emergency Effective Monday 7 a.m.

01/31/2021
Snow Emergency Effective Monday 7 a.m.

Mayor Ray O’Connell is declaring a Snow Emergency in the City of Allentown effective at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, February 1, 2021.

By ordinance, a “snow emergency,” requires owners to remove their vehicles from posted routes. Signs are posted on snow emergency routes, which are also published on the city website, www.allentownpa.gov.   

City Public Works Director Craig Messinger warns that vehicles left on designated routes during a snow emergency will be ticketed and towed, the total costs of which can exceed $200. Parking is prohibited on the routes until the emergency is officially lifted. Residents should also go to the city website or avail themselves of local news media sources to learn when the snow emergency is lifted.

City residents are advised to wait until plows have been down their street before shoveling driveways and are asked to avoid throwing snow back onto the streets.

The Allentown Parking Authority is making the Arena North Deck (712 W. Linden with room for 700 vehicles) available for free parking for residents during the snow emergency beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 31, 2021.

Should that deck be full, Authority personnel will direct drivers to the next available deck.

Parking will also be available in the Allentown School District Parking Deck at 18th & Turner streets.  Effective Tuesday, February 2, the parking deck at Saint Cloud & Liberty is no longer available.

The Allentown Fairgrounds parking lot will also be available beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 31, 2021. Motorists are asked to enter at Gate 8 on Liberty Street.

According to Messinger, plows and salt spreaders are mounted on some 50 trucks to make traveling in the city as safe as possible.

Motorists are urged to stay off the roadways as travel will be treacherous during this storm.

Messinger said, “We ask that the public please refrain from throwing snow into the street.  We ask for your patience and cooperation to allow our crews to do their jobs.”

Plows will operate day and night working to keep main arteries open and then shifting to secondary roads and alleys.  The city has more than 440 miles of roadway that consists of about 1,500 lane miles that need to be cleared.

The city has an ample supply of road salt and anti-skid material.

The city’s Emergency Operations Center will open at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, February 1, 2021.

Information on snow removal operations will be available at Snow Operations (allentownpa.gov). The city’s “Snow Operations Hotline” will be staffed throughout the Snow Emergency at 610-437-7669.

Please do not call 9-1-1 unless it is an emergency.  Do not call 9-1-1 because your street has not been plowed.  Contact 610-437-7669 for updates on snow plowing activity in your neighborhood.

In an update from what was first reported on Sunday morning, the city's trash collection contractor, Waste Management, has cancelled Sunday night garbage collection in the city.

--30--

Posted in: Homepage, Public Works, Streets | View Count: (4985)