Worcester Parking Fees, Fines To Rise Under Proposal

WORCESTER, MA — Parking might soon get a little more expensive in Worcester.

City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. has asked the City Council to approve a number of changes to the city's parking system, including big changes in the Canal District, where Polar Park will likely squeeze lots, garages and metered spots.

Augustus wants meter rates to rise from $1 to $1.50 across the city, and wants to boost the parking violation fine from $15 to $30. At the downtown lots along Water and Millbury streets, monthly parking rates would rise from $42 to $63 per month under his proposal.

The $1 metered rate is low compared to other local communities. Parking in some parts of downtown Natick, for example, is about $1 per hour. It's $1.25 per hour in Framingham, and up to $1.50 in communities like Salem and Lowell.

Worcester recently rolled out multi-space parking meters in some parts of the city, which will eventually replace single-space meters. Worcester is also adding a pay-by-phone app.

Augustus is also proposing changes in the Canal District neighborhood ahead of the first WooSox game at Polar Park in May: extending meter times to 9 p.m. from the current 8 p.m. paid parking end time; flat rates at off-street parking facilities on WooSox game days at $15 for the closest lots, $10 for ones slightly farther away and $5 for the farthest lots; adding flat-rate meters along five streets near Polar Park; and ending free parking on Sundays in the neighborhood.

Many of the changes — like ending Sunday free parking in the Canal District — will require City Council approval. However, Augustus will use his own administrative power for items like increasing the hourly rate to $1.50 and switching to a pay-by-plate system.