PORTLAND -- A yellow zone parking ban for the City of Portland has been declared beginning at 10:00 PM tonight, Monday February 11th, and ending at 6:00 AM tomorrow morning, February 12th. Last night, city crews were able to clear more than half of the downtown area and are hoping to clear and remove snow from the remaining streets during tonight's ban. The Yellow Zone is an area within the downtown business district that is geographically bounded by:

Commercial Street on the South
Cumberland Avenue on the North
Franklin Street Arterial on the East
State Street on the West

The parking ban is in effect within the square area of these four streets. As winter operations are still underway, the city asks residents and visitors to extent possible to park off-street. Keeping the streets open allows for expedient snow removal.

Yellow Zone parking bans provide Public Works the opportunity to remove snow from the streets and sidewalks in this area improving traffic flow and commerce within the business district. Vehicles left on the street during a ban will be towed at the owner’s expense (tow fee - $70, impound fee - $35, ticket cost - $30 and all outstanding tickets must be paid. Vehicles not claimed within 24 hours will be charged $25 storage fee per day). Owners of towed vehicles should call the city’s Parking Division at 874-8443 during normal business hours for tow lot locations (outside of regular business hours, call the Police Department at 874-8575 for assistance).

There are a number of places people can park at no charge during a parking ban including:
Deering Oaks – on the left hand side of Tennis Court Road only
State Street gravel lot – abutting Deering oaks
Fitzpatrick Stadium parking lot
Hadlock Field parking lot
All Portland Public School lots EXCEPT the lots at Reiche School which abuts the school and playground
Parking lot at Nathan Clifford School
Parking lot on Munjoy Street, formerly known as the Adams School lot
Cutter Street lot (off the Eastern Prom)
Beach Street lot accessible from Commercial Street (This lot is available after 8 P.M.)
Lot across the street from the International Marine Terminal on Commercial Street (corner of Park and Commercial Streets)
Dougherty Field
On Peaks Island, parking is available at the Welch Street parking lot, the St. Christopher's Church parking lot, the Brackett Memorial Church parking lot, and the CMP back lot at Island Avenue and City Point Road
Many parking garages in the area are open for parking bans at reduced rates – check with individual garages for rates and hours. For a complete list of city-owned and privately operated parking garages, visit the city’s website.

Vehicles can begin to park in these designated areas at 5:00 PM the night a parking ban is declared. Vehicles must be moved from the city lots by 7:00 AM the morning the ban is lifted.

Residents and visitors to the city can sign up online, become a fan of Portland Cityline on Facebook or a follower of PortlandCityline on Twitter to receive notices from the city when a city-wide parking ban is implemented. People can also call the parking ban hotline at 879-0300 or check the Time and Temperature sign for up-to-date postings.Portland declares a Yellow Zone parking ban