Reimagining Snow Operations

Neighborhood Pilot Areas

Starting Sunday, January 4, 2026, Saint Paul Public Works will be doing a second year of piloting a new weekly alternating one-sided parking cycle on residential streets. This weekly alternating parking cycle will be in effect for the two pilot areas until April 11, 2026.

During the pilot, Public Works crews will be treating and plowing all streets in the pilot area for any winter weather related event. Residents should anticipate seeing plows on their street. Please note these plows may only be doing work in the pilot area and not on surrounding streets.

The two neighborhood pilot areas will be signed with temporary signs (see image below) and are located:

Snelling-University - bounded by Thomas Avenue, Snelling Avenue, St. Anthony/I-94, and Aldine Street
Selby-Western - bounded by Selby Avenue, Western Avenue, Summit Avenue and Dale Street

On-street parking in these designated areas will be one-side parking that will alternate weekly between the EVEN and ODD addressed numbered sides of the streets.

Parking is permitted on both sides of the streets on Sundays between 3-9 p.m. when people should be moving vehicles to the other side of the street where permitted.

If there are residential handicap signs on the street, the city will temporarily post a handicap parking area on the alternate side of the street. Follow all permanent and posted street signs.

See FAQs below for more information.

Parking schedule

Week	Dates	Parking Rules
EVEN	1/4; 1/18; 2/1; 2/15; 3/1; 3/15; 3/29	Park on the side of the street with EVEN-numbered addresses
ODD	1/11; 1/25; 2/8; 2/22; 3/8; 3/22; 4/5	Park on the side of the street with ODD-numbered addresses

If a Snow Emergency is declared during the pilot, this parking schedule will remain in effect. The Snow Emergency parking rules will NOT apply in the pilot areas. All other areas of the city will follow the Snow Emergency parking rules.

Ticketing & Towing

The city will be ticketing and towing vehicles that are NOT parked according to the alternating one-sided parking cycle rules in the pilot area.

January 4-17: Education phase
- The city will be flyering vehicles in the pilot area to provide information about the weekly alternating parking cycle.
January 18- April 11: Enforcement phase
- The city will be ticketing and towing vehicles that are NOT parked according to the weekly alternating parking cycle rules in the pilot area.

Sign indicating 2026 pilot area

Example of the 2026 Pilot Area perimeter signs posted in two pilot areas in St Paul Jan4-Apr 11, 202

Community Meetings

Selby-Dale Pilot Area Virtual Community Meeting will be held on December 16, 2025

In partnership with Ramsey Hill Association and Summit U District Council, Saint Paul Public Works will host a virtual community meeting to discuss the New Snow Pilot Project and answer any questions.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025
5:00-6:00 p.m.
Join by computer via Microsoft Teams (recommended): Join the meeting now (no need to download the Teams app, open in web browser)
Join by phone (audio only): 612-315-7905, enter meeting ID: 60573384#

Selby-Dale Pilot Area In-Person Community Meeting will be held on December 18, 2025

In partnership with Ramsey Hill Association and Summit U District Council, Saint Paul Public Works will host an in-person community meeting to discuss the New Snow Pilot Project and answer any questions.

Thursday, December 18, 2025
5:00-6:30 p.m.
St. John the Evangelist Church (60 Kent Street, St Paul, MN 55102)

Snelling-University Pilot Area Community Meeting was held on December 1, 2025

In partnership with Hamline Midway Coalition, Union Park District Council, Saint Paul Public Works held an in-person Community Meeting to discuss the New Snow Pilot Project and answer any questions.

Monday, December 1, 2025
5-6:30 p.m.
Bethlehem Lutheran in the Midway (436 N Roy St, St Paul, MN 55104)

Snelling-University Pilot Area

Area bounded by Thomas Avenue, Snelling Avenue, St. Anthony/I-94, and Aldine Street. Please note: Snelling Avenue and University Avenue are NOT included in the pilot area.

Printable flyer for Snelling-University pilot area with maps COMING SOON

Please share information about the pilot area parking rules with your family, neighbors, guests, caregivers, contractors, and others. Note that these flyers will be placed on cars throughout the pilot. Also, if you leave town, please leave your car keys with trusted friends or family to move your car.

Map for EVEN week parking in Snelling-University (North and South areas)

EVEN-address weeks: 1/4; 1/18; 2/1; 2/15; 3/1; 3/15; 3/29

Map of the Snelling-University (North) pilot area for the EVEN-ADDRESSED weeks

Map of the Snelling-University (South) pilot area for the EVEN-ADDRESSED weeks

Map for ODD week parking in Snelling-University (North and South areas)

ODD-address weeks: 1/11; 1/25; 2/8; 2/22; 3/8; 3/22; 4/5

Map of the Snelling-University (North) pilot area for the ODD-ADDRESSED weeks

Map of the Snelling-University (South) pilot area for the ODD-ADDRESSED weeks

Community Meeting will be held on December 1, 2025

In partnership with Hamline Midway Coalition, Union Park District Council, Saint Paul Public Works will hold an in-person Community Meeting to discuss the New Snow Pilot Project and answer any questions.

Monday, December 1, 2025
5-6:30 p.m.
Bethlehem Lutheran in the Midway (436 N Roy St, St Paul, MN 55104)

Selby-Dale Pilot Area

Area is bound by Selby Avenue, Western Avenue, Summit Avenue, and Dale Street. Please note: Selby Avenue and Dale Street are NOT a part of the pilot program area.

Printable flyer for Selby-Dale pilot area with maps (coming soon)

Please share information about the pilot area parking rules with your family, neighbors, guests, caretakers, contractors, and others. Note that these flyers will be placed on cars throughout the pilot. Also, remember if you leave town, please leave your car keys with a trusted friend or neighbor to move your car.

Map for EVEN week parking in Selby-Dale

EVEN-address weeks: 1/4; 1/18; 2/1; 2/15; 3/1; 3/15; 3/29

Image of a map in the Selby-Dale neighborhood of the 2026 pilot area for the EVEN-ADDRESS weeks

Printable EVEN side parking map Selby-Dale

Map for ODD week parking in Selby-Dale

ODD-address weeks: 1/11; 1/25; 2/8; 2/22; 3/8; 3/22; 4/5

Map of the Selby-Dale neighborhood for the snow pilots in 2026 for the odd-addressed weeks

Printable ODD side parking map Selby-Dale

Virtual Community Meeting will be held on December 16, 2025

Tuesday, December 16, 2025
5:00-6:00 p.m.
Join by computer (recommended): Use link COMING SOON
Join by phone: 612-315-7905, enter meeting ID: 60573384#

Modernizing the City's Approach to Winter Weather

As a result of the record-setting 2022-2023 snow season, the City of Saint Paul took a citywide approach to reviewing current snow operations and made a number of changes. Saint Paul launched a "New Snow" initiative in 2024, including hiring a consultant to gather and analyze data and provide report and recommendations to Public Works and city leadership to:

Review and analysis of Saint Paul’s current system of parking regulations, winter maintenance operations, communications, enforcement, and Snow Emergency operations.
Conduct two Weekly alternate side parking (ASP) pilot areas on residential streets, feasibility study with data gathering, analysis, and resident surveys in both 2025 & 2026
Recommend a plan for a potential Weekly ASP model for Saint Paul (to be funded and implemented at a later determined date)

The primary goal of the feasibility work is to determine if an altered winter parking regulation, such as a seasonal, one-sided parking cycle, would reduce compaction and mobility challenges caused by parking on both sides of the street.

Saint Paul is:

Researching several systems, models, and options used by 8 northern US and Canadian cities to manage snow operations
Conducting pilots of a "weekly alternating one-side parking cycle" in two neighborhoods in 2025 and two different neighborhoods in 2026
Creating a process to engage the Saint Paul community and our partners about snow operations to seek input and feedback
Finalizing details to begin testing a Vehicle Routing Optimization System (VROS) in 2025-2026
Starting for the 2025-2026 snow season, Public Works will not be able to hand write parking tickets. Ramsey County Courts is requiring only electronic tickets. Electronic tickets can only be issued by Saint Paul Police Department. Public Works and the Saint Paul Police Department will be working together to issue snow emergency parking tickets this season.

Why are we looking at an alternate side parking (ASP) model? What are some of the benefits?

An ASP model is the most used snow operations system of larger cities in the northern US and Canada.
The biggest current challenge to plowing in Saint Paul is on residential streets. We need to work with residents to move vehicles to allow plows to successfully plow snow onto the boulevards. Currently, Saint Paul only plows residential streets when the city declares a snow emergency, which is typically after 3 inches of accumulated snow. During snowfalls of less than 3 inches snow builds up and compacts on residential streets.
An ASP model would keep two-thirds of a residential street open at all times, which has two primary benefits: 1. emergency vehicles, especially fire trucks, can safely access and navigate all residential streets throughout the winter. 2. It allows Public Works staff to go in and plow the drive lane and a parking lane throughout the week - getting the snow out of the street and onto the boulevard.
By "switching sides" every week, it builds a consistency into the parking in Saint Paul. Regardless of the weather, you park on either the odd or even side of the street, and when a snow emergency is declared, people on residential streets don't have to move cars because they are already legally parked!

How does an ASP work?

Allow on-street parking only on one side of the street (odd/even) for one week and then people “switch sides” every Sunday during a specified window of time, such as 3-9 p.m.
Arterial and collector (main) streets continue to be given priority, but ASP models give the ability for city plowing operations to more effectively move into residentials at any time and cars are parked legally and don't have to move for the plows.
Regular ticketing and towing enforcement throughout the winter season to support compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Pilots and New Snow Operations

The record-setting winter of 2022-2023 was unusual, but will likely happen again. That snow season highlighted significant opportunities to improve our current model for snow operations and snow emergencies. Many things have changed since the current snow emergency model was put in place 30 years ago, such as the number of cars parking on the street, weather patterns, resident expectations, ticketing and towing. We have to look at different snow operation models and test the snow operations, signage, compliance, communications, and resident feedback. As part of this process we began with two small pilot efforts in 2025. Building on what we learned in 2025, we are doing two pilot areas during the 202 snow season.
We are listening to you, and our drivers, in efforts to improve snow operations. Snow operations are too important to get wrong. This is only a feasibility study to gather information and data.
- City staff looked at multiple pilot locations across the city with a focus in residential areas with clear boundaries.
- These two locations were chosen for pilots because they include only a handful of the parking challenges found in the city. This way staff can focus on collecting initial data about the effectiveness of this model.
- This year staff are gathering data from the pilot areas and plan to do further testing in additional pilot areas next winter.
- There is no final decision on what, if any, changes will be made to snow operations for Saint Paul and when they would be implemented citywide.
- The city is researching other snow operations models used in northern climates, including an alternate side parking model.
- As part of this process we are began with two small pilot efforts in 2025. This year, 2026, staff are building on what we learned last year and doing two next pilot areas, gathering data.
- Clearing snow in urban/built-up communities in northern climates is really about parking, not plowing.
- Plow operators are not able to clear the streets of snow if there are cars parked on both sides, blocking access to the boulevard (snow storage area).
- Not all areas in Saint Paul have off-street parking, including driveways, garages, and parking lots.
- Better snow operations depend on better parking rules and compliance.
- Suburban communities, with more driveways and garages, usually ban parking on their streets in the winter, making it easier/faster to plow the snow at any time without having cars parked on the streets.
- During a Snow Emergency, we cannot ticket or tow enough cars to move all the parked cars off the streets for the entire city.
- During a Snow Emergency, the city averages more than 2,000 tickets and 600 tows. In 2022-2023, Saint Paul ticketed 20,600 vehicles and towed 6,000 vehicles.
- As of May 1, 2025, the Minnesota courts system will no longer allow Saint Paul to issue to handwritten paper tickets. Tickets must be issued electronically, which can only be done by sworn police or parking enforcement officers.
- Alternate side parking will always leave one side of the street open to allow access for emergency vehicles and everyone else all winter long.
- Weekly alternate side parking allows crews to plow or treat at least two-thirds of the street (1 parking side and the drive lanes) at any time throughout the week and winter.
- Without parked cars moving to allow crews to plow to the curb, the parking lane may become rutted and packed with snow and ice, which further limits on-street parking.
- The parking rules are consistent all winter long, regardless of the amount and timing of the snowfalls. Residents don't need to move their cars twice in 24 hours as they do for a Snow Emergency.
- See the Weekly Alternate Side Parking Pilot Program maps to determine where to park.
- On-street parking in these designated areas will be one-side parking that will alternate weekly between the EVEN and ODD addressed sides of the streets.
- Follow all posted signs for parking restrictions and schedule.
- If a Snow Emergency is declared, please continue to follow the pilot parking rules.

- Look for the property address. EVEN addressed side of the street has the number ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8. ODD addressed side of the street has the number ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9.
- Typically, the south or east side of residential streets are EVEN addresses.
- Typically, the north or west side of residential streets are ODD addresses.
- To address and test different parking needs, we are trying to restrict the parking on these busier streets just during the overnight hours.
- Crews will be able to plow and treat these streets between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Do NOT put garbage and recycling carts in the street.
- Place garbage and recycling carts on your driveway, walkway in the boulevard between the sidewalk and the street (outwalk), or boulevard.
- Do not place your carts on top of or behind a snowbank, or in water, where it could freeze to the ground.
- Garbage and recycling haulers are aware of the pilot areas and will service carts. Please contact the city with any missed collections at www.stpaul.gov/recycle and www.stpaul.gov/garbage.
- Yes, continue to follow the pilot parking rules in the pilot areas even if a Snow Emergency is declared.
- Residents in the rest of the city (outside the pilot areas) will follow the Snow Emergency parking rules.
- No. If your property has a posted handicap parking sign on the street, you cannot park there the week that parking is not allowed on that side of the street.
- The city has post temporary handicap parking signs on the other side of the street for your use.
- You can still use the handicapped parking space for pick up and drop offs (e.g., Metro Mobility, ride share) as long as vehicles could be quickly accessed and moved for plows and emergency vehicles.

2025 Pilot Areas

In 2025 snow season, Public Works did two initial weekly, alternate side parking pilots in two different neighborhoods in Highland Park and Payne-Phalen.

2025 Payne-Phalen Pilot Area
Area bounded by Mississippi Street, Maryland Avenue, Desoto Street, and Case Avenue
Online parking maps for pilot areas
Printable flyer for Payne-Phalen pilot area with maps
Special parking rules for Arkwright Street
- No parking on the ODD side (west side) of the street at all times.
- During the ODD side week, parking will be allowed during the day only on the EVEN side (east side) of Arkwright Street.
- During the ODD side week, No Parking overnight on the EVEN side of the street from 10 p.m. - 6 a.m.
Map for EVEN week parking in Payne-Phalen
EVEN-address weeks: 2/2; 2/16; 3/2; 3/16; 3/30

Printable EVEN side parking map Payne-Phalen
Map for ODD week parking in Payne-Phalen
ODD-address weeks: 2/9; 2/23; 3/9; 3/23; 4/6

Printable ODD side parking map Payne-Phalen
2025 Highland Park Pilot Area
Area is bound by Fairview Avenue, Ford Parkway, Snelling Avenue and Montreal Avenue
Online parking maps for pilot areas
Printable flyer for Highland Park pilot area with maps
Please share information about the pilot area parking rules with your family, neighbors, guests, and others. Note that these flyers will be placed on cars throughout the pilot.
Special parking rules for Ford Parkway and Montreal Avenue
- Parking will be allowed on both sides of the street during the day, except where posted No Parking.
- During the evening, parking will only be allowed on one side of the street based on the alternating side parking rules.
- During the EVEN side week, no parking will be allowed on the ODD side (north side) of Ford Parkway and Montreal Avenue from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- During the ODD side week, no parking will be allowed on the EVEN side (south side) of Ford Parkway and Montreal Avenue from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Map for EVEN week parking in Highland Park
EVEN-address weeks: 2/2; 2/16; 3/2; 3/16; 3/30

Printable EVEN side parking map Highland Park
Map for ODD week parking in Highland Park
ODD-address weeks: 2/9; 2/23; 3/9; 3/23; 4/6

Printable ODD side parking map Highland Park

New Snow Community Working Group

Saint Paul will create a new Snow Community Working Group to serve as community ambassadors to educate, engage, advocate, and collect needed input, feedback, and data from the public around potential new snow models.

The community working group of 12-15 members will meet regularly to:

Learn about current snow operations and challenges
Coordinate and co-host informational community meetings
Support the city’s implementation of the engagement plan and strategies to gather input and feedback from the community (e.g. focus groups, surveys, interviews, community events, etc.) on proposed new snow operations strategies

Interest Form for Snow Community Working Group

Reimagining Snow Operations

Neighborhood Pilot Areas

Parking schedule

Ticketing & Towing

Sign indicating 2026 pilot area

Community Meetings

Selby-Dale Pilot Area Virtual Community Meeting will be held on December 16, 2025

Selby-Dale Pilot Area In-Person Community Meeting will be held on December 18, 2025

Snelling-University Pilot Area Community Meeting was held on December 1, 2025

Snelling-University Pilot Area

Map for EVEN week parking in Snelling-University (North and South areas)

Map for ODD week parking in Snelling-University (North and South areas)

Community Meeting will be held on December 1, 2025

Selby-Dale Pilot Area

Map for EVEN week parking in Selby-Dale

Map for ODD week parking in Selby-Dale

Virtual Community Meeting will be held on December 16, 2025

Modernizing the City's Approach to Winter Weather

Why are we looking at an alternate side parking (ASP) model? What are some of the benefits?

How does an ASP work?

Frequently Asked Questions about the Pilots and New Snow Operations

Why is the City of Saint Paul looking to change snow operations? Why is the city doing this pilot?

Why is the city doing the pilot in my neighborhood?

Will Saint Paul implement the weekly alternate side parking throughout the whole city? And if so, when?

Why can’t the city just plow more?

Why can’t the city just ticket and tow more?

What's the benefit of alternate side parking where I move my car every week?

Where should I park in a pilot area?

How do I know if it is an EVEN or ODD week?

How do I tell which side of the street has EVEN or ODD addresses?

Why are there posted signs saying "No Parking 10 p.m. to 6 a.m." on some streets in the pilot areas?

My garbage and/or recycling is collected on the street. Will it still be collected if cars are parked in front of it? Do I need to put it in the street to be collected?

Do the Pilot Parking rules apply when there is a Snow Emergency?

I have a handicapped parking sign in front of my property. Can I still park there during the week(s) when parking is not allowed on my side of the street?

Could my vehicle get ticketed or towed if parked on the wrong side of the street?

2025 Pilot Areas

2025 Payne-Phalen Pilot Area

2025 Highland Park Pilot Area

New Snow Community Working Group

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