Snow Routes To Be Enforced

The City of Mattoon will be enforcing their snow routes in the downtown area this winter season. Snow route enforcement generally consists of parking restrictions that allow public works crews to clear snow without having to plow around vehicles parked along the street.

Snow Routes are currently posted in the following areas:

• Broadway Avenue from 14th Street to 21st Street.
• Western Avenue from 19th Street to 21st Street.
• 14th Street, 15th Street, and 16th Street all from Wabash Ave to Richmond Ave.
• 17th Street from Wabash Ave to Broadway Ave.

The public is allowed to park on the odd numbered side of the street (usually the south or west side of the street) on odd numbered days of the month. The public is allowed to park on the even numbered side of the street (usually the north or east side of the street) on even numbered days of the month.

The rules are enforceable between the time that 2” of snow has accumulated until the time that the street has been cleared. These rules will not be enacted during normal business hours.

Typical enforcement will occur between 1 A.M. and 6 A.M. The City will typically; tow vehicles and plow one side of the street the first night, then tow vehicles and plow the opposite side of the street the next night.

The penalty for failing to observe the parking requirement is simply that the vehicle is towed at the owner’s expense. There are no additional fines imposed by the City. The towing fees are set by the towing companies. The City does screen the fees to make sure that they are not out-of-line with the other providers in the area. Typical towing fees are; $65 to $75 per vehicle, plus $0 to $3.50 per mile, plus $0 to $25/day storage fee. People can find out which company has their vehicle by contacting the Mattoon Police Department at 235-5451, or the Mattoon Street Department at 235-5171.

People who need to park overnight in the downtown area are encouraged to use the City owned parking lots (Progress Square, Railroad Depot, YMCA) and/or to observe the odd/even parking rules.

Dean Barber
Public Works Director