St. Paul again is looking to use cooperation, not coercion, to clear its streets of snow.
Public Works officials announced Tuesday that they will plow residential streets Wednesday and Thursday without benefit of a snow emergency, which would have compelled residents to move cars off the street under threat of being ticketed and towed. Instead, the city is asking residents to voluntarily move their cars ahead of the plowing so the streets can be widened as much as possible.
Minneapolis street crews will try to clear snowy parking lanes and other areas. About 5 inches of snow has fallen in recent days, but street maintenance superintendent Mike Kennedy said the fluffy snow has not clogged streets too badly. "Conditions just aren't enough to declare a snow emergency," Kennedy said.
Nevertheless, crews will plow the city's 3,700 alleys Wednesday to clear up deep ruts.
Although there's only been one snow emergency in Minneapolis this season, Kennedy said there have been small events that required treatment.
"It seems like it's been a light winter, but we're halfway through winter and halfway to a normal accumulation," he added. "It just feels different."
St. Paul's plowing schedule:
• Wednesday: All east-west residential streets will be plowed starting at 8 a.m. and continuing until 5 p.m.
