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Some Brookline parking meters set to more than double in cost
Some of Brookline's parking meters will jump from 75 cents to $2 an hour under a new rate increase.
Grab your quarters and prepare your parking app: Brookline is raising its parking meter rates.
The town’s Select Board voted unanimously Tuesday to raise hourly parking rates to $2 across the board, eliminating a three-tiered system wherein rates varied from 75 cents to $1.25 to $2 an hour, depending on the street.
Town officials anticipate the higher parking rates will generate about $1,425,000 in additional annual revenue. The increase was first reported by Brookline.News, which noted that the new rates are expected to take effect in the near future.
More on parking:
Brookline’s current rates are “significantly below” the market standard for the surrounding area, Commissioner of Public Works Erin Chute told the Select Board. Boston’s parking rates, for example, range from $2 an hour to $3.75.
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The town last raised its parking rates in 2016, tabling a potential increase in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think our rates are woefully behind all our neighbors’ rates,” Select Board member Miriam Aschkenasy said. “I think this is the best kind of rate to increase because it’s fairly invisible in behavioral economic terms. People use their app for the most part. … It’s not felt the same way for the most part.”
She added: “I don’t think we’re going to lose business. I think most people aren’t going to even frankly notice it too much.”
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Fellow board member Paul Warren noted the potential impact for seniors and community members who are on tight budgets — a point seconded by a couple residents who spoke up during the meeting. Yet Warren also acknowledged that the rate increase will give the town funding to repair its non-functional meters.
Brookline Transportation Board Chair Brian Kane said board members were less concerned about revenue.
“For us, it’s all about turnover and whatever we can do to turn over cars in areas, which we think actually will help the retail establishments more,” he said. “More customers coming through, because there’s a financial incentive to move your car.”
Planning a visit to Brookline? The town’s parking meters take quarters, credit cards, and payments through the Passport Parking app. Oh, and remember that on-street parking is capped at two hours during the day and one hour overnight.
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