Boston parking fines increasing to pay for bike, bus enhancements

As expected, Boston is raising the fines for 11 of its most common parking violations. The changes take effect July 2. You’ve been warned.

The move is designed to raise revenue to pay for bike and bus improvements. Those improvements will include new dedicated bus lanes as well as dedicated spots for ride-hailing services such as Uber to drop off and pick up.

The city also plans to spend millions on signal improvements and repaving roads.

Some of the steepest increases include:

• Double parking will now cost $55 rather than $45 or $30, depending on the location
• Parking during street cleaning will now cost $90, more than double the $40 formerly
• Parking in a resident-only spot without a sticker will now yield a $60 penalty
• Overstaying a meter will now run a $40 fine rather a $25 one

Whether any of this crackdown and resultant $5 million (or thereabouts) in funding for improvements actually curbs Boston’s world-famous congestion, and makes life smoother on bus riders and bikers, remains to be seen. If anything, the dedicated pickup/dropoff spots for Uber et al will encourage more cars to hit the streets.

And the greater difficulty that might arise in parking in much of Boston could hurt businesses that rely on those in from out of town. Stay tuned.

• Boston parking tickets to fund improvements for buses and bikes [Curbed Boston]
• Boston region’s terrible commutes changing the way brokers market [Curbed Boston]