To put it delicately, parking spots in Boston are a coveted item. From record price tags to battles over ill-shoveled snowbanks, a snug-fitting crevasse between bumpers in which to rest that beater of yours is understandably a rare commodity. But in his neighborly capacity as Mayor, Tom Menino’s office and the Boston Transportation Department will be parking a truck throughout Southie to promote parking permit renewals on November 30.
Starting November 1, Boston’s “City Hall to Go” truck will be idling once a week in South Boston to remind residents that current permits expire on the 30th while spreading the word on how to apply for a new one. More importantly, though, those who bring the correct information can simply take care of the entire renewal process at the truck.
According to the press release, the To Go truck will tend to the following schedule:
- Friday, November 1 at #474 West Broadway, at the corner of Dorchester Street, from 4 to 7 PM
- Wednesday, November 6 at #32 Congress Street, across from the Children’s Museum, from 4 to 7 PM
- Friday, November 15 at #474 West Broadway from 4 to 7 PM
- Tuesday, November 19 at #474 West Broadway from 4 to 7 PM
If you plan on renewing a permit at the truck, be sure to have with you “the current permit number, the license plate number and the make of their vehicle. If renewing for a leased vehicle or company car, the current Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Registration, indicating that the vehicle is principally garaged in South Boston, must also be provided.”
The process is equally painless for those seeking their first permit, if they have all of the required information, that is. If you’re looking to purchase a new permit, be sure to have “a completed City of Boston Resident Parking Permit Application, the vehicle’s Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Registration, and a current proof of residency in the form of a major credit card bill, utility bill or monthly bank statement with the same name and address as on the vehicle registration.”
I know, I know. A truck that sits on a street corner for an extended amount of time per day really ought to boast some kind of food menu but you can’t argue with the effectiveness here. Boston is already a crowded city, South Boston amongst its most densely populated areas, so making knowledge of such more accessible to residents is a smart move. Especially since, in the immortal words of Ned Stark, winter is coming where cones, boxes, and chairs transform into place holders for spaces made more worth coming to blows over by an influx of piling snow.
For more information on permits, payments, and all things parking check out the CityofBoston website.
