West Chester Boro Declares Snow Emergency, Opens Public Parking

WEST CHESTER, PA — West Chester Borough has declared a Snow Emergency that will begin Wednesday at 11 a.m. and continue through Friday at 11 a.m. and residents are asked to move their cars into one of the borough's parking garages.

Narrow streets, densely parked cars, and alleys make snow removal difficult in West Chester Borough, the mayor's office said on Tuesday. "Snow emergencies allow the plows to access the streets and make them passable for ambulances, police cars, and other emergency vehicles."

Vehicles can be moved to parking garages in the borough at no cost during the emergency. West Chester University will also open the New Street, Sharpless Street, and Matlack Street garages for the Snow Emergency.

The declaration comes as the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for southeast Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey, effective Wednesday morning.

The NWS predicts heavy mixed precipitation with snow accumulations in excess of 12 inches, along with a light glaze of ice. Winds gusts may be as high as 35 miles per hour, the NWS said Tuesday.

Here's what you need to know to avoid ticketing and towing in West Chester Borough:

• If you live on a snow emergency route, move your car off the street during snow emergency hours or you will be ticketed and you may be towed.
• Borough parking garages are open for free for the duration of a snow emergency. If you move your car to a garage before we declare a snow emergency, you won't be charged on your way out as long as you exit before the end of the snow emergency.
• Free parking is available in the Chestnut Street Garage and Bicentennial Garage on High Street. The New Street, Sharpless Street, and Matlack Street garages will also be open, courtesy of West Chester University.
• If you live on a snow emergency route, you must move your car when the Borough declares a snow emergency, and you must keep the car off the streets for the duration of the snow emergency.

A map of Snow Emergency Routes can be found here.