St. Paul declares snow emergency

St. Paul has declared a snow emergency.

Starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday, parking will be banned on streets marked "Night Plow Route." Parking restrictions switch to day plow routes starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The city decided to implement the parking restrictions so it could deal with the snow that built up over several days, said public works spokesman Dave Hunt.

"There is still accumulated snow from last week still on the streets, and this will allow us to address that," Hunt said. "By moving the cars during the parking restriction period, we can get at those parking lanes unimpeded."

St. Paul has stepped up snow removal efforts after what Mayor Chris Coleman acknowledged was an inadequate response to the year's first major snowfall earlier this month. The city increased the amount of salt it spreads, plans to purchase more plows and is searching for a new manager to oversee street maintenance. The previous manager was reassigned.

Minneapolis has not called a snow emergency this week. Public Works officials there say they'll be able to clear the streets without parking restrictions this time.