By Carol McCracken

Portland has announced there will be a Yellow Zone parking ban starting tonight, 1/19/09, at 10:00 p.m. to end at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow am, 1/20/09.

This Zone encompasses the downtown business district of Portland bounded by:

Commercial Street on the South,
Cumberland Avenue on the North,
Franklin Street Arterial on the East, and
State Street on the West.

The rules of a city-wide parking ban apply here as well.

Parking can begin at 5:00 p.m. tonight and cars must be removed from the city lots by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow.

People can call the parking ban hotline at 879-0300 for more information. You can sign up for parking ban information at www.portlandmaine.gov.