The majority of Jamaica Plain residents are staying home to do their part to help bend the curve and stop the spread of COVID-19 in the city many are still worried about parking their cars during the street sweeping season that began this month.
While most of us are stuck inside and only venture out maybe once or twice a week to stock the fridge, pick up medications or take a solidarity walk the last thing we want to think about is moving our car and trying to find an alternative parking spot during street sweeping.
Mayor Martin Walsh announced that the city has updated the city’s parking policies to reflect the tough times all residents are going through amid the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
Walsh said the Boston Transportation Department will not be ticketing and towing for street cleaning, given challenges to finding alternative places to park in neighborhoods.
Walsh also announced that 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. However, cars without the relevant resident permit parking sticker, standard time limit and meter requirements remain in place.
BTD will not issue tickets for expired inspection stickers or registrations, given potential challenges for people to renew inspections and registrations at this time.
To help small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19, BTD has created temporary pick up zones in front of Jamaica Plain 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.
The City of Boston and its municipal partners of Brookline, Cambridge, Everett, and Somerville are also offering all hospital staff a free 30-day pass for our public bike share, Bluebikes. To learn more about how to sign up for the program hospital staff should visit boston.gov.
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.