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Albany residents have one more day to navigate snow emergency parking restrictions as city crews continue clearing streets following a major winter storm that hit the Capital Region earlier this week.
The snow emergency, which began Tuesday evening (January 27), remains in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday (January 29). Vehicles must now be parked on the odd-numbered side of streets to allow plows to clear the even side, following Wednesday's switch in the parking rules.
"You need to be on the even side of the street from now until 8:00 PM tonight and then move your car to the odd side of the street and stay there so we can clean the even side over the next 24 hours," Frank Zeoli, Deputy Commissioner for the Department of General Services, told NEWS10.
The Department of General Services has been working around the clock since the storm, which dumped snow at a rate of 2.5 inches per hour at its peak. Crews have focused particularly on tight residential areas, though their efforts have been hampered by improperly parked vehicles.
"Those trucks don't do anything if people are still parked on the [wrong] side of the street. The only way those trucks can move the snow and haul the snow away is if we can get people off the [wrong] side of the street," Zeoli explained.
Dozens of vehicles were towed during the first 24 hours of the snow emergency. Life Nieves, Fleet Manager at AC Towing Company, reported they towed "in the high eighties to low nineties" vehicles, with owners facing recovery fees between $150 and $180.
For residents unable to find street parking, the city has designated free parking zones across several neighborhoods including Arbor Hill, Pine Hills, South End, Center Square, North Albany, and the West End. A complete list of designated snow emergency parking lots is available on the city's website.
Property owners are reminded they're responsible for clearing sidewalks outside their residences within 24 hours after the end of a snowfall. Failure to comply could result in fines.
Residents seeking information about towed vehicles can call the Albany Police Department's non-emergency number at (518) 438-4000. For snow emergency updates, residents can check the city's website or Mayor Dorcey Applyrs' social media accounts, or call the Snow Emergency Hotline at 518-476-7669.