BOSTON – This week, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn filed a hearing order to discuss implementation of a 7 nights per week “Resident Parking Only” policy in all areas of South Boston that do not currently have overnight parking restrictions. For several years, Councilor Flynn made this recommendation for many reasons – including in the interest of fairness and consistency with residents in neighborhoods throughout South Boston, as City Point has had 7 nights per week “Resident Parking Only” for over a decade, as well as other neighborhoods in similar proximity to Downtown currently having enforcement of an even stricter “24/7 “Resident Parking Only” policy than what Councilor Flynn is proposing.
For years, residents have highlighted the impact of decades of unprecedented growth in South Boston on parking and quality of life – including the unsustainable imbalance of currently issued resident parking stickers and available parking spaces, along with a number of large-scale development proposals on the horizon that will include thousands of new residents and visitors alike. In addition, the City of Boston continues to hold South Boston to a different standard when it comes to a lack of sufficient parking with new Article 80 development projects. At the same time, neighbors have to consistently search for parking for a considerable period of time after taking their children to activities, helping an elderly parent, or enjoying a night out – they come home to circle for 45 minutes hoping to find a spot.
Over the last several years, the parking crisis in South Boston has become increasingly unsustainable. In 2023, a Boston Transportation Department (BTD) study indicated there were 28,900 active resident parking permits and only 10,600 on-street parking spaces. Although Councilor Flynn requested an audit of all residential parking permits, and BTD subsequently revoked thousands that were ineligible, concerns remain for residents on enforcement and a policy of automatic resident parking permit renewals that has continued since the pandemic…