Boston parking ticket fines are going up on July 2 for numerous violations, including parking in resident parking without being a resident, not paying a meter and being parked at a meter past the time limit. The good news is that some of the money collected will fund bike and pedestrian connections from the Roxbury-Fenway Connector linking the Southwest Corridor and the Emerald Necklace.
Along with 11 parking tickets going up in price, the city will no longer tow vehicles parking in violation of posted overnight street cleaning programs where it begins at or after midnight and ends no later than 7 am. But those vehicles will be given a $90 parking ticket.
“Parking regulations are a crucial component of urban transportation systems and abiding by them helps considerably to keep streets safe, functioning and equitable,” said Boston Transportation Department Commissioner Gina N. Fiandaca via press release. “For instance, safety is improved when hydrants, wheelchair ramps and snow emergency lanes are not blocked; traffic congestion is eased when vehicles are not double-parked or left in no parking zones; and the parking needs of residents, businesses and visitors can best be balanced when drivers refrain from parking illegally in both resident parking and loading zones, as well as from monopolizing short-term parking availability at meters. Boston drivers are strongly encouraged to voluntarily comply with all posted parking regulations and help BTD to maintain the safety of our roadways.”
The parking violation fines to be increased are as follows:
- Resident Parking, from $40 to $60
- Overnight Street Cleaning (Ticket But No Tow), from $40 to $90
- Loading Zone, from $55 to $90
- No Parking Zone A, from $55 to $90
- No Parking Zone B, from $25 to $55
- Double Parking Zone A, from $45 to $55
- Double Parking Zone B, from $30 to $35
- No Stopping or Standing, from $75 to $90
- Meter Fee Unpaid, from $25 to $40
- Over Meter Time Limit, from $25 to $40
- Over Posted Time Limit, from $25 to $40
Wondering how many tickets are handed out in Boston? In fiscal year 2017, more than 1.3 million parking tickets were issued. And in the first 10 months of fiscal year 2018, there have been more than 33,000 parking enforcement related requests received through the city's 311 system.
The revenue generated from the increased parking fines will go to several transportation priorities and projects outlined by the city's Go Boston 2030 plan.
Here are some of the projects, according to the Boston Transportation Department:
- Vison Zero safety enhancements including constructing additional Neighborhood Slow Streets zones and protected bike lanes, and fixing the most challenging intersections.
- Advancing Boston’s strategic bike network by building out high quality bike infrastructure.
- Creating Boston’s first Transit Team to work with the MBTA to improve public transit. Among other responsibilities, the Transit Team will design exclusive bus lanes and implement traffic signal improvements to benefit mass transit.
- Building a better pedestrian network through the Walkable Streets program.
- Filling missing bike and pedestrian connections to parks and paths through the Green Links Program. Three are currently underway: the Roxbury-Fenway Connector linking the Southwest Corridor and the Emerald Necklace; the Roslindale Gateway Path; and a multi-use path connecting Fenway and Yawkey Stations.
- Advancing the use of adaptive traffic signal technology. BTD is currently working with MassDOT to pilot this technology in the Seaport District.
- Expanding the Performance Parking Program to all City of Boston parking meters.
- Developing policies and programs focused on Transportation Network Companies, electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles.
- Working with local transportation associations and developers to manage privately funded street improvements to directly benefit the surrounding neighborhood
- Dedicating additional revenue toward the Parking Meter Fund to support neighborhood transportation projects.