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Parking meter rates rise in Boston's Back Bay, Seaport

BOSTON — The City of Boston is starting a pilot program that could have you paying more than twice the price at parking meters.

Starting Tuesday, Boston will adjust meter rates on five Back Bay streets and 40 blocks in the Seaport “to study how parking meter rates can reduce the search time for parking and reduce street congestion.”

Back Bay Price Changes

In the Back Bay, prices at 1,650 meters will be raised to $3.75 an hour, which Mayor Walsh said is in line with other major cities.

The goal, Walsh said in a release, is to make drivers think twice about parking at meters for an extended period of time, and instead consider parking in a garage. This would then free up the spots for people making quick stops in the area.

The Back Bay area included in the pilot is bounded by Beacon Street, Arlington Street, Stuart Street, Mass Ave, and Charlesgate.

Seaport Price Changes

A different plan in the Seaport will see meter prices adjusted based on location and parking occupancy. The 591 meters in the area will be priced at $1.50 per hour and adjusted by 50 cents every two months, either up or down depending on the block. Walsh said the minimum for these spots over the year-long program will be $1 per hour and the maximum will be $4 per hour.

Seaport prices will also vary based on the time and day: weekday mornings, weekday afternoons, weekday evenings, and Saturday.

“Some people will park in a parking meter and take the ticket and sit there all day long and this will hopefully change that mindset as well,” Walsh said.

One thing that will not change, Walsh said, is the time limit on spots, which currently stands at two hours for most of the spots.