The City of Portland is reminding citizens who live or park on the peninsula that compliance with overnight (and in some areas daytime) street maintenance parking restrictions is crucial. Street sweeping operations and regulations are in effect each year from October 1 - May 31. While street sweeping occurs throughout the year, these restrictions ensure the City can complete curb-to-curb sweeping as mandated by the Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP). The City makes one big push to complete curb-to-curb at the end of fall to clear catch-basins of leaves before winter storms start, and then again between winter and spring to remove salt and sand so it doesn’t contaminate water streams. During the winter season, the parking restrictions are used so public works crews can perform snow removal operations.
The City’s Water Resources division is ready to start with its curb-to-curb street sweeping operations before the parking restrictions end on May 31. Residents are asked to comply to avoid receiving parking tickets. If compliance is not achieved, the City will be forced to tow vehicles.
When cars do not move, City street sweeping machines are not able to sweep to the curb and instead are forced to try to maneuver around vehicles or go down the middle of the street. This ends up leaving additional debris and leaves near the curb, and clogs storm drains. Additionally, sometimes sweepers are sent back out on non-restricted nights in the hopes of finding cars gone from missed areas.
The majority of vehicles are currently required to move on either Monday nights (for Tuesday 12:01 AM signs) or Tuesday nights (for Wednesday 12:01 AM signs) depending on the area. When restrictions are in place, residents are asked to park cars on the opposite side of the street. There are also daytime restrictions in the East End and Parkside neighborhoods.
The current street maintenance parking restrictions by zone can be found at www.portlandmaine.gov/streetmaintenance.
Original source can be found here
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