Snow's Coming.. Get The Hell Out Of Allentown

The City Of Allentown has released the following.."Mayor Ed Pawlowski declared a Snow Emergency in the City of Allentown at 4pm today, Tuesday, February 11, 2014 that will go into effect at 7pm on Wednesday, February 12. That Snow Emergency will stay in effect until further notice.

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 Streets Superintendent Mark Shahda warns that vehicles left on designated routes during a snow emergency will be ticketed and towed. Parking is prohibited on the routes until the emergency is officially lifted. Residents should also go the city website or avail themselves of local news media sources to learn when the snow emergency is lifted.

In addition, the city is posting the following areas for No Parking effective at 7pm Wednesday, February 12.
     Jordan St from Whitehall St to Turner St
     Green St from East of Meadow at the dead end to 12th St
     Cedar Street from 3rd St to 12th St
     Whitehall St from Meadow St to 8th St
     Penn St from Sumner Ave to Union St
     Lumber St from Whitehall St to Linden St
     Jefferson St from Carey St to Liberty St and Gordon St to MLK
     Madison St from Allen St to Winton St
     Franklin St from Early St to MLK
     Fulton St from Linden St to Elm St and Turner St to Washington St
     St Cloud St from Maple St to South St and Turner St to Chew St
     West St from Gordon St to South St
     St George St from Tilghman St to Liberty St and Chew St to Linden St

“Any heavy snowfall may make these streets impassable for plows and emergency vehicles,” said Pawlowski. “Owners need to move their vehicles for the overall safety of the neighborhood.”

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

The Allentown Parking Authority is again providing free lots:

LOT NAME LOCATION
     Transportation Center Sixth & Linden streets
     Northeast 121-137 N. 7th St
     Germania 108-126 S. 7th St
     Fountain 923-933 Walnut St
     Community 13-37 S. 6th St
     Walnut @ 9th Deck Corner of 9th & Walnut Sts.
     Spiral Deck 820 – 836 Linden Street
     “E” Lot 226 N. 9th St

Motorists are urged to go the parking decks beginning tomorrow, February 12 at 4pm at Sixth & Linden, Ninth and Walnut and 820-836 Linden to fill them first. That will give the Authority the best opportunity to plow its surface lots.

The Authority properties will remain open until after the snow emergency is lifted.

Parking will also be available at the Allentown Fairgrounds beginning at 2pm on Wednesday, February 12. Motorists should enter at Gate 8 near the intersection of Liberty and St. Cloud streets and they will be directed to the proper parking area. The Fairgrounds can accommodate approximately 150 vehicles.

Residents are asked not to place items in the street in an attempt to save parking spaces. The city also requests resident participation in clearing snow from storm sewer drains and fire hydrants."Back in the 90's, when we had huge snowstorms back to back, I called my brother who had just moved to Old Zionsville on a back road where he and only 3 other homes were to rag him. This after I was trapped and missing work for 3 days living in downtown Allentown. I wanted to taunt him by asking how it was going out in the boonies. He replied he was only trapped for 8 hours before township plows came through. He never missed a hour of work at Strohs for is 3rd shift mechanics job. The yuck, yuck was on me!

I do agree with the mayor, we need to unblock these streets for emergencies. On the other hand I can understand why residents are fleeing to the suburbs from here and in other cities to escape these kind of problems. This snowmageddon isn't make much of a case for cheer leaders in support of urban renewal.