West Hartford's Snowstorm Preps, What You Need To Know

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Town officials said this week they're ready for the first major snowstorm of the winter.

And, now, they want residents to be ready too.

Last winter was a mild one, with snow impacts minimal statewide, but this weekend's expected storm is likely to bring several inches of snow Saturday night into Sunday morning.

West Hartford officials said the wind will also be a factor, with gusts over 30 mph possible.

The town Thursday evening issued several winter storm impacts folks should be apprised of.

Off-Street Parking

Town officials said residents should be making plans for off-street parking as a parking ban was announced Friday.

The parking ban will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, until further notice.

During a parking ban, no on-street parking is allowed so that public works crews can remove snow from curb to curb.

"Cars left on the road create a safety hazard for all concerned," wrote the town. "The owner will receive a fine and the car may be towed."

Residents are asked to take this parking ban seriously and make safe plans for their vehicles.

Some options:

• Municipal parking lots, including schools and parks, may be used for off-street parking. Park cars close together. Do not leave parking spaces between cars. "This helps plow drivers clear snow efficiently. If you use a free school lot, your vehicle must be removed by the designated time announced in the parking ban or it will be towed," wrote the town.

• Off-street neighborhood municipal lots and garages are open. Pay-to-park fees will apply. Motorists may register their plate using one of the kiosks inside the garage or a mobile app (i.e. Flowbird app or PassportParking app).

Enforcement

The West Hartford Police Department will assist the public works department to ensure the roads are clear of illegally parked vehicles.

Police will enforce the parking ban by ticketing any non-compliant vehicle owner.

Christmas Trees and Leaf Bags

If a Christmas tree was not collected by Saturday morning, pull it back from the edge of the road so it does not get covered in snow.

Trees buried in snow will not be collected.

Curbside yard waste and leaf bag collection have ended. Remove all items from the edge of the road.

Those can be disposed of at the Yard Waste & Recycling Center (with an annual permit) or wait until April when curbside service resumes.

Snow removal
Do not throw snow or ice into the street.

"You can help West Hartford achieve its Vision Zero goal of eliminating fatalities and severe injuries on West Hartford streets by doing your part to keep our roads safe," wrote the town.

Sidewalks

West Hartford property owners, renters, and businesses are reminded of their responsibility regarding the removal of snow and ice from sidewalks.

Town Ordinance 115-24 states, "West Hartford property owners are responsible for removing snow and ice from the sidewalk along their property line within 12 hours after the storm or sunrise, whichever is later, and keeping them clear of snow and ice.”

Clearing snow and ice from heavily used sidewalks near schools, public buildings, and commercial areas is particularly important.

To report a snow-clearing violation, call the West Hartford Police Department at 860-523-5203.

Fire hydrants

Residents can help the West Hartford Fire Department and protect neighboring properties by shoveling around fire hydrants.

Emergency alerts

Residents can get alerts about emergencies and other important community news by signing up for West Hartford’s Community Advisory Notification System.

This emergency alert system enables the town to provide critical information quickly in a variety of situations by text, voice, and email. Visit https://www.westhartfordct.gov/how-do-i-2/get-notified.

For general storm preparation tips, check out the Ready.gov website on how to prepare for winter storms https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather.