Tuesday, April 7, 2020 – Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Transportation Department today announced ticket amnesty for healthcare workers to assist those who are providing critical care during the public health emergency caused by COVID-19 (coronavirus). In addition, the Boston Transportation Department has launched a new mapping tool for healthcare workers to find parking spaces in Boston.
“With our Boston Transportation Department, we are working to provide transportation assistance to Boston’s healthcare workers who are on the frontlines of this pandemic,” said Mayor Walsh. “We understand transportation is crucial for medical professionals, and these updated policies will assist them during this public health crisis.”
During this public health emergency, the Boston Transportation Department is working to assist medical workers getting to and from hospital and other care facilities as easily as possible, while practicing appropriate social distancing. To make these parking spaces accessible for medical workers, tickets issued in these areas to heathcare staff will be waived on appeal during the course of this emergency. Appeals may be initiated by emailing [email protected] and sharing a copy of the ticket, and your hospital ID. This policy is also retroactive, and the timeline for healthcare workers to appeal a ticket has been extended to six months.
With this policy, if a healthcare worker gets a parking ticket for a non-public safety reason (for example, overstaying a meter), the City will waive the ticket upon appeal, if the person shares a copy of their work ID.
These exemptions do not include public safety violations, such as blocking a hydrant, sidewalk or handicap ramp. These policies will be in place only for the duration of the Boston Public Health Commission’s declared public health emergency or as otherwise determined by the Commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department.
To make it easier for hospital staff to find municipal lots as well as garages near them with free, reduced or reserved spaces, the Boston Transportation Department has created a map for healthcare workers to access parking spaces.
In coordination with the Boston Public Schools, Boston Center for Youth and Families, Boston’s faith community and the Mayor’s office of New Urban Mechanics, the City is also exploring temporarily converting certain parking lots into employee parking for medical staff at specific hospitals across the City.
The following updates to parking enforcement policies are in effect until further notice in the City of Boston:
Resident Parking
Residents with a valid resident permit sticker will be allowed to park in a metered or two-hour parking space, without having to adhere to the time limit or pay a meter fee, within their specific neighborhood.
For cars without the relevant resident permit parking sticker, standard time limit and meter requirements remain in place.
Street Cleaning
BTD has not been ticketing and towing for street cleaning, given challenges to finding alternative places to park in neighborhoods.
Inspection Stickers and Registration
BTD will not ticket for expired inspection stickers or registrations, given potential challenges for people to renew inspections and registrations at this time. The RMV has also provided extensions for expiring inspections.
To help small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19, BTD is creating temporary pick up zones in front of restaurants that have transitioned to takeout and delivery only. Takeout food pickup zones restrict parking to five minutes to increase convenience for the quick pickup and delivery of takeout food from restaurants, and provide adequate room for social distancing of six feet or more. Restaurants that would like to request a temporary pick up zone can do so on boston.gov. Requests will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
With the exception of those changes noted above, BTD will continue to enforce parking violations, with a focus on public safety violations, such as blocking a hydrant, sidewalk or handicap ramp.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
