City councilor Gabriela Coletta and colleagues to discuss the digitization and tracking of parking spaces.

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EAST BOSTON (April 10, 2023) – Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta introduced a hearing order, co-sponsored by At-large City Councilor Michael Flaherty with Councilor Liz Breadon of Allston and Brighton, to discuss the digitization and tracking of parking regulations in the City of Boston.

“Every year as we approach the budget season, residents across my district reach out asking for greater funding for parking enforcement. We need a strong enforcement system, especially as we have a high level of density with small parking spaces per unit in our neighborhoods,” said Councilor Coletta. “Based on my conversations with the Boston Transportation Department (BTD), staff is currently tracking parking regulations based on institutional knowledge with no modernized internal system to support them. This hearing aims to create a pathway for efficient constituent services regarding parking regulations by exploring how digitizing this information may foster greater quality of life for residents that rely on on-street parking near their homes.”

Additionally, Councilor Coletta hopes that the systemization of parking regulations can help BTD staff provide services efficiently as well given ongoing understaffing issues at the department.

At Large City Councilor Michael Flaherty said “I am happy to co-sponsor this hearing order to explore digitizing and categorizing parking regulations within the City of Boston. We need to bring the BTD into the digital age so that we can track where and when residents and nonresidents can and cannot park within the City of Boston. I believe it is also important to have a digitized system to allow for home health aides, physical therapists and hospice care providers to come to our city rather than choose to not treat Boston residents for fear of getting ticketed or towed. The goal is to increase efficiency, make things easier for people to navigate and ultimately raise the quality of life for all Bostonians.”

“I am delighted that Councilor Coletta has raised the issue of parking enforcement as the City Council enters into the FY24 budget process. In Allston-Brighton, residents sometimes find themselves at odds with their neighbors, construction workers, or small businesses when street parking regulations and enforcement do not keep pace with changing conditions. Several City departments are charged with maintaining safe conditions on over 800 miles of streets in Boston,” said Councilor Liz Breadon. “City workers possess deep knowledge of these streets, and I look forward to hearing from them and Cabinet leadership regarding the Administration’s plans to transparently assist residents who rely on street parking to take care of their families and businesses, even as the City enhances active transportation for cyclists and pedestrians.”

Lower Chelsea Street East Boston
Photo credit: EastBoston.com, file photograph by Frank Conte