City of Columbus to Delay April Start of Annual Street Sweeping Program
The City of Columbus is delaying the April start of its annual
street sweeping program at posted routes to ensure convenience and on-street
parking availability for residents during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
City street sweeping normally operates from April through
October. Street signs with posted sweeping days alert residents when to move
their cars on specified days and times. For now, residents may disregard those
on-street parking restrictions. The Department of Public Service, Division of
Infrastructure Management, will conduct sweeping on an as-needed basis, but
ticketing and towing will not be enforced.
The Department will re-evaluate the suspended service in
mid-April to possibly resume the street sweeping program in May, pending
further developments related to the coronavirus emergency.
“The Department of Public Service is focused on the health
and safety of our residents as we maintain delivery of essential city services
they depend on every day,” said Director Jennifer L. Gallagher. “Services such
as trash collection, traffic operations and street maintenance are our
priorities for the well-being of our residents.”
The street sweeping delay is one of several actions the city
has taken this week to provide flexibility and convenience to residents
following public health guidelines to stay at or work from home. These measures
include:
- No ticketing of vehicle owners for failing to
register or for displaying expired license plates following Gov. Mike DeWine’s indefinite
closure of Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles deputy registrar locations.
- No enforcement for now of the parking code
requiring vehicles parked on the street to be moved after 72 hours.
- Parking ticket appeal hearings are cancelled
indefinitely and all fines and penalties are suspended until hearings resume.
- Some High Street parking meters in the Short
North are temporarily converted to 30 minutes to accommodate carryout service
and brief pick-up and drop-off at local restaurants and businesses there.