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MBTA parking rate to change as of September 1

Upcoming changes to occur at MBTA parking facilities

There will be upcoming changes to rates at MBTA parking facilities, which will take effect September 1, 2018.

The rate changes follow the implementation of a new parking policy unanimously adopted by the Fiscal and Management Control Board in June. We have launched a website especially designated to detailing the changes at: www.mbta.com/parkingprices.

As a reminder, this does not mean that prices at all parking facilities will increase. In fact, parking rates will decrease up to 50 percent at some underused facilities in order to encourage more commuters to park there.

The new parking policy represents a balanced approach that cuts prices at many lots, adds new products, and aims to improve the customer experience by encouraging the use of parking facilities with more free space. This, in turn, frees up space at the busiest lots, and grows revenue to reinvest back into the system.

As it stands now, a number of the T’s parking facilities reach full capacity by 7:30 a.m. while thousands of parking spaces remain empty during the day at underused facilities. By adjusting parking prices, the MBTA hopes to create more room for everyone.

Starting September 1, we will continually evaluate the new rates’ efficacy and address any gaps or inefficiencies periodically. Further, as part of the adoption of the new policy, MBTA parking staff is required to return to the Control Board after a 90-day review and observation period to present findings on customer behavior and any unintended consequences of the new policy and prices.

Briefly, the new rates include the following:

 Increased weekday rates at locations that reach capacity early in the day
 Reduced weekday rates at locations with more availability
 Reduced weekend rates at almost every station
 Changes to monthly rates that reflect new weekday rates

In addition to our efforts to create more space and encourage the use of underutilized facilities, we are also investing more in our parking garages and surface lots to address necessary maintenance and rehabilitation. Some of these investments include:

 Alewife Garage: The MBTA is in the process of developing a long-term plan for the garage, and in September will begin a $5.7 million repair project which includes repairing beams, patching concrete decks, re-caulking deck joints, and cleaning and flushing the existing drainage system.
 South Shore Garages: $64 million in a full-scale rehabilitation of Quincy Adams and Braintree garages resulting in better access, brighter lighting, and extending the useful life of the garages for decades to come.
 Surface Lot Reconstruction: More than $10 million to improve pavement, lighting, security, and customer access at MBTA surface parking lots.
 Better Maintenance: The MBTA is investing more in things like painting, sweeping, and lighting to make our facilities better places to park.

As we initiate outreach efforts to inform the public of these changes, we encourage you to visit www.mbta.com/parkingprices and we look forward to your feedback.