New parking regulations enforced in Boston during COVID-19 outbreak
March 27, 2020
LAST UPDATED: June 8, 2020.
Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Transportation Department announced ticket amnesty for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Parking Garages for Medical Professionals
Boston Transport Department created a list of facilities offering free, reduced rate or reserved parking for medical professionals. Medical staff need to present a hospital ID for discounted parking.
Bluebikes
On May 1, the City of Boston and its municipal partners of Brookline, Cambridge, Everett, and Somerville announced they are offering all hospital staff a free 30-day pass for the public bike share Bluebikes. To sign up, medical personnel must send an email from their hospital account to a contact specific to their organization, which they can find on boston.gov.
The City also announced the following updates to parking enforcement policies, which are in effect until further notice. These measures are designed to help improve access to medical facilities and small businesses. They also remove some of the burden for Boston searching for long-term parking spots while they self-isolate, or those worried about expiring registrations during this period.
Where can I park in Boston during the COVID-19 public emergency?
Because the last thing anyone needs right now is a ticket, below is a full list of the new rules.
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Note: Parking and transportation changes will only be in effect as long as the city’s state of public emergency remains in place. Apart from the exemptions listed, BTD will continue to enforce parking violations, particularly those which jeopardize public safety, like blocking fire hydrants and handicap ramps.
RESIDENT PARKING: Locals with a valid resident parking permit, displayed in their vehicle, can now park in a metered or time-limited parking space in their neighborhood without worrying about paying or rushing back before the clock’s up on their spot. Drivers without the appropriate resident permit sticker must continue to adhere to normal time limits and meter requirements. On April 7, the mayor announced a parking ticket amnesty for health care workers and those providing care during the pandemic. For as long as Boston’s state of public health emergency persists, medical staff will have up to six months to appeal tickets received near a hospital or medical facility.
STREET CLEANING: Boston Transport Department will not ticket or tow vehicles during for street cleaning, given challenges to finding alternative places to park in neighborhoods, the mayor’s office wrote in a recent statement.
INSPECTION STICKERS AND REGISTRATIONS: Boston Transport Department will not ticket for expired inspection stickers or registrations, given potential challenges for people to renew inspections and registrations at this time.
PICK UP AND DROP OFF ZONES: New temporary pick up and drop off zones will be established outside restaurants offering take out and delivery services. For the convenience of patrons, parking in these zones is restricted to five minutes and will accommodate social distancing requirements.
It is hoped this will encourage customers to continue frequenting small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Restaurants looking to set up a temporary pick up zone can do go to boston.gov. Requests will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
PARKING GARAGES: The transport department has a list of parking garages offering free, reduced rate or reserved parking for medical professionals. To receive discounted parking, medical staff should present a hospital ID to garage staff.
PARKING TICKET APPEAL UPDATE:
City Hall is only open to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays but if you received a notice for a parking ticket appeal hearing for a Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday, you do not need to reschedule. You can come in on a Tuesday or Friday, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
![Despite the pandemic, barbers are still cutting and styling at D’Friends Barber Shop in Jamaica Plain. The Community Fridge can be seen from the inside of the shop with Northeastern student Talja Ketchum painting vibrant rainbows and flowers onto its exterior. The barbers are enthusiastic about the new initiative right outside their door. “My best friend gets a haircut at this barbershop all the time, so he put me in contact with the owner,” said Josiel Gonzalez, a co-founder and main organizer for the JP fridge. Jay Valeria, 24, has been a barber at D’Friends for three years now. “There’s a lack of love and warmness [in the world],” explained Valeria. “I feel like this promotes love.”](https://thescopeboston.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/1-300x200.jpg)