07-03-2025
St. Paul sees promising results from one-sided parking test areas
A test of one-sided parking restrictions in sections of two St. Paul neighborhoods drew strong compliance and ended with just a handful of tows during the snow emergency that began Wednesday night, according to St. Paul Public Works.
St. Paul began testing weekly, alternate side parking in designated corners of the Payne-Phalen and Highland Park neighborhoods on Feb. 2. The pilot program, which runs through April 12, requires drivers to move their car to the opposite side of the street every Sunday, with weeks beginning on even dates requiring parking on the even-numbered side of the street, and odd-side parking required on the other weeks.
A powerful late-season storm blew up to a foot of snow into the Twin Cities Tuesday night into Wednesday, canceling in-person schooling for most students and stranding some motorists. St. Paul officials declared a snow emergency, leading to 954 tickets issued and 240 vehicles towed citywide as plow trucks worked routes designated for night plowing, according to a spokesperson for Public Works.
Ticketing and towing information during the snow emergency's day plow phase was not immediately available Friday.
'In the two pilot areas, we towed zero cars from one and five from the other,' said Lisa Hiebert, a spokesperson for St. Paul Public Works.
On Sunday, drivers in the two pilot areas will be expected to shift to the odd-address side of their street. Plows will come in on Monday and do clean up of the parking lanes.
'Generally speaking, we are halfway through the pilot project and residents are really doing a good job with understanding these new and different parking rules,' said Hiebert on Friday. 'Yesterday, there were only five vehicles towed in the two areas that were not in compliance. This Snow Emergency event is a good test for this alternate side parking model that is used in other northern cities.'
The city will continue to monitor and collect data throughout the pilot period, and mail a survey at the end. More information is at
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