With the arrival of the new year comes a temporary blessing: street sweeping-related parking restrictions on District streets will be lifted for the rest of the winter. The D.C. Department of Public Works has announced that the city “will temporarily suspend daytime street cleaning from January 3 to March 18, 2005. During this time, ‘No Parking/Street Cleaning’ restrictions will also be lifted in these residential areas. Residents and visitors who park along posted, alternate-side, daytime street sweeping routes will not be required to move their cars on street-sweeping days during the sweeper hiatus.’

But major “arterials” will still be subject to cleaning. In true D.C. municipal style, it is unclear which “arterials” are subject to continued restrictions, though DPW says that “Pennsylvania, Georgia, Constitution, Independence Avenues and others” are included. The “others” probably include any state-named avenue.

The best rule of thumb is to observe and decipher parking signs as best you can. Additionally, during snow emergencies, pay attention as the rules of parking can be altered as the District removes snow from city streets, especially snow emergency routes.