With word of another winter storm on the way, Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney announced Friday that the city's "Snow Emergency Plan with Restricted Parking" will begin at 4 p.m. today.
The city puts the emergency plan in place when it expects more than 6 inches of snow accumulation, according to a definition of the emergency plan provided by the mayor.
The following streets will be designated as snow emergency routes in the city: Centre Street; East Norwegian Street; Laurel Boulevard, from Centre to Second streets and Ninth to 12th streets; Mauch Chunk Street; Nichols Street; Peacock Street; and West Market Street.
"Vehicles must be removed from the north side of East Norwegian, Mauch Chunk, Nichols and West Market streets, and from the west side of 12th Street and both sides of Centre and Peacock streets," according to the emergency plan.
The following streets will be designated fire lanes: Second Street from Laurel to Sanderson streets; Morgan Avenue from Third to Seventh streets, north side only; Sanderson Street; Third Street from Sanderson to Morgan streets; Fourth Street from Mahantongo to Boone streets; Sixth Street from Mahantongo to Boone streets; Ninth Street from Mahantongo to Pierce streets; 20th Street; Deerfield Drive; Mount Hope Avenue to the city line; Pierce Street from Second to Fourth streets; Union Street from Second to Fourth streets; and Wolfe Street from Norwegian to Pierce streets, according to the plan.
"Cars must be removed from these streets. Residents from these areas are encouraged to remove their vehicles as far in advance of the storm as possible," the plan states.
The following areas have been identified as temporary parking spots for affected city residents:
- For residents on Third Street: the Schuylkill County Courthouse juror lot, the lots at Centre, Arch and Union streets and the Capitol Parking Deck and Mahantongo Parking Center, the East Norwegian lot and the Good Samaritan Anderson Street lot.
- For residents on Mauch Chunk Street: the Union Street lot.
- For residents on Nichols Street: the north side of East Railroad Street.
- For residents on Peacock Street: the Aetna Warehouse East and West lots, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. only.
- For residents on West Market Street: the lower lot of the Pottsville Area School District Academic Center, the lots at Arch and Union streets, the Capitol Parking Deck and Mahantongo Parking Center and the east side of Yorkville Boyer's parking lot.
"Temporary parking is available only during the snow emergency. Residents are required to remove their vehicles and utilize traditional parking once the snow emergency plan is lifted," according to the plan.
Also during the snow emergency, Mahantongo Street will be one-way, east bound from 12th to Third streets, and alleys will be a secondary priority, according to the plan.