In a city where parking is constantly in high demand, Northeastern has been working steadily to ensure the winter elements do not interfere with transportation around the university.

The university follows a campus-wide parking policy for weather emergencies, which may be new for students bringing cars into the city for the first time.

When a snow emergency is declared by the city of Boston, individuals holding overnight parking permits from Northeastern are prohibited from parking in surface lots and are instead required to move their vehicles to the Renaissance Parking Garage at 835 Columbus Ave.

According to the university’s overnight parking policy, it is the responsibility of overnight permit holders to check with local radio and television stations for the announcement of a snow emergency whenever such weather is expected in the city. Additionally, the university asserts vehicles that remain parked in the surface lots once a snow emergency has been declared are subject to towing without warning and at the owner’s expense.

Vice President for Student Affairs Ed Klotzbier offered his own advice to students looking to avoid winter transportation woes.

“You want to get off the streets and into the garages,” he said. “I think the last thing you want to do as a student is walk out on a city street and realize your car has been plowed in by the public works plows and you’re on your way to a co-op job and you can’t dig it out. Most people don’t think of carrying a shovel in the trunk of their car, and since they’re not at home, they can’t go out in the garage and borrow their parents’ shovel.”

In some cases, a little peace of mind may be worth all the difference.

“Why worry [about a vehicle becoming stuck] when in our lots you know you’re going to be able to get some help getting it out,” Klotzbier said.