PORTSMOUTH — Public works crews have begun preparations for the 2024-25 winter season, and city officials are reminding residents about procedures for banning snow parking and ensuring safe winter operations for drivers, pedestrians and city staff.

Smart911 and Snow Phone Notifications: The Portsmouth Department of Public Works and Police Department will continue to use the Smart911 alert system that sends text, email, voice mail and Facebook notifications to subscribers. Snow parking notices are issued prior to the anticipated snow parking ban; alerts are issued when the parking ban comes into effect. All notifications are distributed via Smart911 and Snow Phone at (603) 766-7669. To sign up for Smart911, visit: portsnh.co/smart911.

Cancellation of winter garbage collection: The following garbage collection cancellation notification procedure will be followed: If the National Weather Service issues a Winter Weather Advisory (a forecast that predicts 3 to 5 inches of snow accumulation in the next 12 hours or accumulation of sleet or freezing rain) , the garbage is not collected the next day. The next collection will then be made the following week on the normally scheduled day. The goal is to notify residents of the cancellation the night before the scheduled trash pickup so they can clear obstructions from streets and sidewalks. Information: portsnh.co/snowtifications.

Snow parking bans: Snow shoveling operations in Portsmouth typically begin when snow accumulation exceeds two inches. If a citywide parking ban is issued to facilitate snow removal, residents can take advantage of fixed-rate parking at the High-Hanover Garage ($10 per exit) and the Foundry Place Garage ($5 per exit), effective from that an early ban is announced. up to 2 hours after the cancellation of the ban is issued. Information on parking ban logistics and city lots available to the public during snow emergencies: portsnh.co/snowimpacts.

“We understand how difficult and inconvenient the parking ban is for many residents. The Department of Public Works does not want to tow vehicles off the street, but may be required to do so to perform snow removal during significant storms,” said Peter Rice, Director of Public Works. “We also want to make sure residents and city staff are safe when it comes to trash pickup during a snowstorm. By correlating trash collection cancellations with advance weather advisories, it will be easier for residents to know when to put items out — and keep sidewalks and streets clear of snow removal.”

This article originally appeared on the Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth Winter 2024-25: Details of parking bans, snow alerts