Whenever I’m having work done on my car, as was the case last week, I bike from West Newton to the Y at Newton Corner. This time, after the discussion of Walnut Street parking vs bike lanes, I was noticing the parking situation along Washington Street between Newtonville and Newton Corner.
There’s a long stretch of 12-hour, 8am-6pm enforced, parking meters midway between Newtonville and Newton Corner (above), near Whole Foods/Marty’s Liquors, which are going begging. Why are we even metering this stretch? I’m not saying spend money to take them out, just put hoods or signs on them saying parking is free. They are a healthy, but not unreasonable, walk to either the Newton Corner express bus, or Newtonville commuter rail, so it’s a waste that they are not used. But at the current rate of 25 cents/half hour, or $5-6 for an all-day parker, there doesn’t appear to be much demand. My guess is that the whole package – price of the commuter rail vs. taking the T, frequency of T vs. commuter rail, and the convenience and price of par
king, the whole package is not attractive enough.
There’s a similar underutilized stretch of metered spaces between Walnut and Harvard Streets (right), in between the stairs down to the Newtonville station. Meanwhile, there’s free all-day parking along the south side of Washington Street near Newton Corner (left), which is clearly being 
utilized, whether by commuters using the express bus, or people who work in Newton Corner, I can’t tell.
I looked up what a commuter pays getting to Boston by different modes. At current rates for a single ride: T with Charlie card – $1.70; express bus with card – $2.80; commuter rail from Newtonville – $4.25. For a monthy pass: T $59; bus $89; rail $135. And after July 1 rate increases, the spread is even greater: T $2.00, bus $3.50, and rail (with off-board purchase discount) $5.50 for a single rides, and $70, $110 and $173 monthy, repectively.
We in Newton can’t do much about commuter rail pricing or frequency of trains, but we could cut those parking fees, making it more attractive for commuters to park where there’s now excess parking that’s not in front of anyone’s houses, and away from where there isn’t.
No doubt the cost of parking, combined with the commuter rail costs are a deterrent. But so is the need to carry two fistfuls of quarters to feed the meter for a day.
It might make sense to allow commuters to buy monthly dashboard parking passes for those stretches of meters at a discounted rate, say $60/month (about $3/day). No need for quarters, underused meters get used (generating income), using commuter rail is encouraged. Win-win for all.
Excellent examples of how parking can be priced too high as well as too low.
What is needed is a comprehensive parking management plan that looks at all demand and all capacity in an area and prices meters so that those spaces similarly proximate to the attraction (here the commuter rail and buses) are priced similarly and at a price that yields the right occupancy level (something just below 100%).
Why not eliminate the parking in areas that are obviously underutilized to make room for bike lanes?
As for the meters, the need for quarters is perhaps the most frustrating thing around Boston. The kiosks in Cambridge, for example, take credit cards, but ONLY take quarters as the cash option. Which means that a 25-cent piece is worth $25 (cost of a ticket).
As far as I understand, merchants are required to take any legal tender, including pennies, as payment for their goods. Why isn’t the city required to do the same?
As someone who parks there, you are all completely missing the issue. About 2 blocks down on Washington Street, all the parking is free. Thus, no one uses the meters. Unless you come late and the free parking is gone. Meter the entire road, and you’ll see more varied use.
The free parking on Washington has always annoyed me. The commuter parking fee is WAY too high now ($4.50 a day), and lots of people avoid it by parking for free.
There are lots of strange places in Newtonville without meters. Why aren’t the spaces in front of the parking lot on Austin metered?
@fignewtonville,
Could you please let me know where exactly is the free parking on Washington St? I recently started to commute to downtown and I am looking for a free parking near by Washington St in Newton area. Thanks.
Sure, just look a little past whole foods. No meters, and not two hour parking.
Chuck had it right – put in bike lanes.
Fignewtonville, thanks for the tip on the free parking. That’s awesome. Do you know how late you can go before it fills up?
So, I’ve been living near the Whole Foods on Beacon/Walnut for 1.5 years now, and I’m just now trying to make it work to take the train to work from Newtonville. So many good reasons to take the train instead of drive.
But, the parking is my last hurdle. I refuse to figure out a way to have $35 in quarters in my car every week. I’m hoping the free parking past the Whole Foods on Washington does the job, but are people interested in trying to get the city to expand the free parking, or make monthly passes available? Seems like a low-cost way for the city to subsidize rail ridership. Maybe we need a petition or something? Has anyone tried approaching the city about the issue?
I just started working at One Newton Place and have to say that although I get to work early so have no trouble getting a parking space the need to have all those quarters is a pain. Anyone know if the city has plans to put in the credit card meters?
Hi Bonnie. I don’t know whether Newton plans to do credit card meters, but I’m impressed that you found this thread!