Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced that the City of Boston will once again be providing parking incentives for local drivers during the holiday season. Boston drivers will be offered two hours of free parking at the City’s 9,000 metered spaces, the opportunity to participate in the popular “Toys for Tickets” program and the chance to purchase a Boston Meter Card at 20% off the face value of the card.
“The City of Boston is fortunate to have an abundance of wonderful shops and restaurants and the holiday season is a terrific time of year to stroll around, enjoy the festive sights and sounds, and visit them all,” said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “These parking incentives are a way to accommodate those who want to take advantage of all that Boston has to offer and prefer to have their car nearby.”
The incentives are outlined below.
Two Hours of Free Metered Parking
The City of Boston will be offering two hours of free parking at the City’s parking meters on the following six days this holiday season.
Friday, November 29.
Saturday, November 30
Saturday, December 7
Saturday, December 14
Saturday, December 21
Saturday, December 28.
While payment at meters will not be required on these six days, the time limit on the meters will be in effect and enforced in order to give as many visitors as possible a chance to take advantage of this opportunity. Parking at the vast majority of Boston’s parking meters is limited to two hours. However, at parking meters where the time limit is four hours, vehicles may park for free for up to four hours on these six days.
Toys for Tickets
Any driver issued a non-public safety parking ticket on Boston’s streets from Monday, December 2, through Wednesday, December 4, may choose to resolve the ticket by providing a non-violent, unwrapped toy of equal or greater value than the ticket fine. To participate, drivers must bring the parking ticket, as well as a receipt for the toy.
Toys and tickets will be collected from Thursday, December 5, through Friday, December 13, at the following three locations.
Weekdays, between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM, in front of the Office of the Parking Clerk, Room 224, Second Floor of Boston City Hall.
Weekdays, between the hours of 7 AM and 11 PM, and Saturdays, between the hours of 8 AM and 1 PM, at the BTD Tow Lot, 200 Frontage Road.
Thursday, December 5, through Friday, December 13, (excluding Sunday, December 8, and Monday, December 9) at the City Hall To Go Truck. Please log on to www.cityofboston.gov/cityhalltogo
for the truck’s schedule.
Boston Meter Card Holiday Sale
The Boston Transportation Department is selling Boston Meter Cards at a discounted rate this holiday season. The cards are available in denominations of $5, $25, $50, $75 and $100, and all are discounted 20% From Friday, November 29, through Tuesday, December 31, 2013. Boston Meter Cards may be used to pay electronically for parking at most of the single space meters located on City of Boston public streets. The cards are available for purchase online at www.cityofboston.gov/parking. The cards may also be purchased at the following locations.
Weekdays, between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM, in front of the Office of the Parking Clerk, Room 224, Second Floor of Boston City Hall.
Weekdays, between the hours of 7 AM and 11 PM, and Saturdays, between the hours of 8 AM and 1 PM, at the BTD Tow Lot, 200 Frontage Road.
From Friday, November 29 through Tuesday, December 31, from the City Hall To Go Truck. Log on to www.cityofboston.gov/cityhalltogo for the truck’s schedule.
Cash, credit and debit cards are accepted at the Office of the Parking Clerk and the Tow Lot. Debit, MasterCard and Visa Card only are accepted at the City Hall To Go Truck.
Boston Transportation Department Commissioner Thomas J. Tinlin said, “Curbside metered parking is both convenient and free for two hours this Friday and Saturday, as well as every other Saturday prior to New Year’s Eve. Please remember that on Sundays meters are always free in Boston and the two hour limit is not in effect.”