READING, Pa. – The City of Reading has declared a snow emergency due to expected significant snowfall and hazardous winter weather conditions.
In a news conference held Friday afternoon, Mayor Eddie Morán said residents and city service providers should take immediate steps to prepare for inclement and potentially dangerous conditions.
During the snow emergency, all city-owned parking garages will be open and available for public use from Saturday, January 24 at noon through Tuesday, January 27 at 7:00 a.m.
Mayor Morán says the measure is intended to reduce on-street parking while allowing crews to safely and efficiently clear the streets.
The measure applies to parking garages only. Surface parking lots are not included.
Officials say the 6th & Cherry parking lot will be reserved exclusively for approved emergency vehicles and will not be open to the public during the storm.
The City’s Snow Emergency Routes will be cleared first then snow removal will continue on local streets.
Priority Snow Emergency Routes are:
North & South 5th Street
Lancaster Avenue
Walnut Street
Washington Street (including 2nd Street from Washington to Penn Streets)
Penn Street
Franklin Street
North 13th Street
Perkiomen Avenue
Schuylkill Avenue
Spring Street
Front Street (Penn St. to Cathedral)
Eleventh Street (Franklin to Walnut Streets)
Kenhorst Boulevard
Museum Road
Vehicles left on Snow Emergency Routes may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.
The City of Reading Property Maintenance Division will be canceling all scheduled inspections for Monday, January 26. Depending on storm impacts and resulting conditions, Tuesday inspections may also be affected.
Trash and recycling services are canceled for Monday, January 26. All trash and recycling pickups will be delayed by one day.
Reading City Hall will be closed on Monday, January 26 and the city council meeting
scheduled for that evening has been postponed to Monday, February 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Throughout the storm, Mayor Morán says updates will be provided through City Hall, local media, and the City of Reading’s official social media channels.