Four years after introducing alternate side of the street parking rules during snow emergencies — only to have them substantially ignored by city motorists — the city is now banning all on-street parking along major routes during snowstorms.

The change comes at the request of Department of Public Works officials, who complained last year that widespread noncompliance with the alternate-side rules hampered snow removal efforts.

The new rules will impact 28 Kingston streets designated “Snow Emergency Routes” used by emergency vehicles to get through the city during heavy snowfalls. The routes receive the highest priority for plowing and snow removal; during periods of exceptionally heavy snow, they’re typically the only routes through the city kept continually clear.

Among the streets where the no parking protocol will be in effect are Broadway, Washington, Lucas, Foxhall, Flatbush and Albany avenues and Abeel Street. (A complete list of streets impacted by the new rules, arranged in alphabetical order for your convenience, is at the bottom of this story.) Snow emergency alternate side of the street rules, which permit parking on the odd side of the street on odd calendar dates and the even side of the street on even dates, will remain in effect for all other city streets. The rules go into effect whenever city officials declare a snow emergency, typically when snowfall totals reach three inches or more.

Prior to 2017, on-street parking was banned citywide during snow emergencies. The alternate-side plan was introduced in November of that year as a more convenient alternative for city residents who don’t have off-street parking at home. But last year, amid complaints about the slow pace of snow removal efforts following a December storm that dumped more than a foot of snow in Kingston, DPW Chief Ed Norman said that at least some of the delay was caused by noncompliance with alternate side parking. (Norman also blamed the lack of a mandatory overtime clause in the labor contract with DPW, which forced the department to rely on volunteers for off-hours plowing and snow removal).

Mayor Steve Noble said he hopes the new rules would speed up plowing operations citywide. “I think it will allow us to maintain those major routes and get them cleared more quickly,” said Noble.

“And the sooner we can do that, the sooner we can get out into the neighborhoods and start clearing side streets.”

The Common Council, which signed off on the new plan, also allocated $7,000 for a citywide mailing in English and Spanish which will explain the new rules and suggest off-street parking options for those impacted. Those flyers are expected to be mailed to every household in Kingston sometime next week.

Common Council Majority leader Rennie Scott-Childress (D-Ward 3) said he hopes the mailing will help prevent confusion among residents as the city once again changes its snowstorm parking protocols.

“It was always a work in progress and as we refine that work, we discover new issues,” said Scott-Childress of the alternate-side parking experiment. “There’s always that back and forth between the people complaining that the snow is not being removed versus the people complaining that it’s not clear where to park.”

Streets impacted by the new rules are:

Abeel Street

Albany Avenue

Andrew Street

Boulevard

Broadway

Clifton Avenue

Cornell Street

Delaware Avenue

East Chester Street

East Strand

Elaine Drive

Flatbush Avenue

Foxhall Avenue

Frog Alley

Garden Street

Garraghan Drive

Hasbrouck Avenue

Hurley Avenue

Linderman Avenue

Lucas Avenue

Mary’s Avenue

North Street

O'Reilly Street

Pearl Street

Schwenk Drive

Washington Avenue

Wilbur Avenue