Due to the higher than predicated snowfall from Monday’s Groundhog Day snowstorm, Belmont has modified its snow emergency parking ban as Department of Public Works crews and private contractors play catch-up on clearing the more than foot of new snow that blanketed town streets and roads.

According to Belmont Police and town officials, vehicles will be allowed to park on the odd-numbered side of the street beginning at 7 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3. and will remain in effect until revoked by the Town Administrator David Kale. This rule is for most secondary and side streets in Belmont.

During the new rules, town and private crews will begin removing and move snow on major roads, intersections and around schools that has been piling up since last week’s blizzard. 

“If cars park on both sides of the street, then the street may become too narrow for a fire truck or ambulance to get by on the way to an emergency call,” said a notice on the town’s web site. 

There are exceptions to this rule:

• A small number of streets have posted signs NOT allowing parking on the odd-numbered side at any time. On those streets, parking will still be allowed on the even side of the street.

• On roadways with “No Parking” signs, parking will NOT be allowed on the odd-numbered side.

• The following public and private streets and roads are exempt from this emergency parking rule and remain subject to normal parking rules:

• Belmont Street (entire street)
• Bright Road (entire street)
• Brighton Street (Cambridge line to Flanders Road)
• Concord Avenue (Cambridge line to railroad bridge)
• Channing Road (Leonard Street to Claflin Street)
• Claflin Street (Channing Road to parking lot)
• Claflin Street (Alexander Avenue to barrier)
• Common Street (Belmont Street to Payson Road)
• Cross Street (Broad Street to Waterhouse Road)
• Grove Street (entire street)
• Leonard Street (entire street)
• Lexington Street (Church Street to Trapelo Road)
• Moore Street (entire street)
• Park Avenue (Knox Street to Frontage Road)
• Pleasant Street (Concord Avenue to Leonard Street)
• Trapelo Road (entire street)
• White Street (Sycamore Street to Trapelo Road)

In addition, the town wants residents to be aware that drivers must park their vehicles so that the tires are no more than 12 inches from the curb or the edge of the road, even when snow piles make it impossible to get your car that close to the curb. Police officers apply some discretion with this rule during the winter and don’t usually ticket people for this violation during the winter, but during parking bans, the rule will be enforced.