The Department of Public Works has installed a Blue Light Parking Ban Notification System on a portion of Farmington Avenue.

A Blue Light Parking Ban Notification at the intersection of Farmington Avenue and Trout Brook Drive. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s Department of Public Works has been relying on email and social media to spread the word when there is a parking ban in effect, but now there is one more way that residents will be alerted.

Earlier this month, a Blue Light Parking Ban Notification System was installed on many of the traffic control mast arms at intersections along Farmington Avenue, including intersections with Trout Brook Drive and Quaker Lane. This type of system has already been in place in some neighboring communities, such as Hartford and Bloomfield, but this is the initial implementation in West Hartford.

Compliance with parking bans has been challenging in the Farmington Avenue area, and according to an announcement by the town, Public Works expects the Blue Light Parking Ban Notification System to “be a valuable tool for our snow and ice control winter operations.”

The town provided the following details/instructions related to the system:

• When the blue light flashes, a Parking Ban is in effect. On-street parking is prohibited.
• Avoid parking on the streets during this time to prevent fines or towing and to ensure smooth snow removal operations.
• Parking bans are implemented to allow our crews to clear snow and ice from curb to curb.
• When the blue light is off, on-street parking is permitted.

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