The Sweden Town Board has adopted one-day parking restrictions that will help keep town streets accessible to emergency vehicles on April 8 during the solar eclipse. Thousands of extra vehicles are expected to visit the community during the once-in-a-life time event. The resolution bans parking on one side of the street (odd numbered addresses) in subdivisions and other roads that are narrow or lack substantial shoulders. The restriction does not apply to any state or county roads or many town roads that can readily accommodate shoulder parking.
Parking restrictions were recommended to the Town by public safety officials including police, fire and ambulance services. The concern is keeping streets and roads accessible to emergency vehicles in what is predicted to be historically heavy traffic.
The Town’s original proposal was to limit parking for the day on both sides of about a third of town-owned roads. Following a public hearing on the matter, the Town Board scaled the restrictions back to only one side of the designated streets.
“The Town of Sweden’s focus has been on transportation and public safety throughout our planning process,” Supervisor Patricia Hayles said. “We are doing what we can to strike the balance between welcoming many visitors and supporting the needs of our emergency services.”
In other public safety planning, the Town Highway Department is working with the Brockport Fire District to respond to non-medical, non-fire emergency calls on April 8, freeing the first responders to concentrate on those priority calls. The Highway Department will also be installing temporary no parking signs so that residents and visitors can easily understand the restrictions.
“We are looking forward to the eclipse and the town’s position in its direct path,” Hayles said. “We are confident that our preparations will help our emergency services perform well that day so that all may enjoy the total eclipse safely.”
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