Government

City Council to Discuss Winter Parking Ban at Special Meeting

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Watertown City Hall

The City Council will discuss whether to continue the Winter Parking Ban after receiving a petition signed by more than 800 residents. The public an provide input at the special meeting scheduled later this month. The City sent out the following information:

A Special City Council Meeting to discuss the Winter Parking Ban has been scheduled for January 21, 2025 at 6 p.m. This is a Public Hearing that has been scheduled following the City Council receiving a petition asking for the Winter Parking Ban be lifted. The Hearing will be held in the City Council Chamber in Watertown City Hall at 149 Main Street. The Hearing’s agenda will be posted soon.

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Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban to be Temporarily Lifted

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Watertown’s overnight winter parking ban will be temporarily lifted starting the week of Christmas. See more information in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Effective December 23, 2024 enforcement of the All Night Parking Ban will be temporarily suspended – barring any snowfall that would require plowing or sanding. Should there be a snow event please refer to the City’s website for available off-street parking locations. All homeowners are encouraged to continue using available off-street parking during the overnight hours.

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See the Dates of the Watertown Winter Parking Ban for 2024-25

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The City of Watertown announced the dates for the 2024-25 Winter Parking Ban. See information below. For the 2024 – 2025 parking ban, enforcement will start on December 2, 2024. The regulation reads in part; “No vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. all days of the week.”

For residents who lack sufficient off-street parking, the City allows for temporary parking at any municipal parking lot and other locations. Read more information.

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LETTER: Group Seeks to End the Winter Parking Ban

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Currently, Watertown enforces an overnight parking ban by prohibiting parking longer than one hour between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM from approximately December through March. The primary rationale for this measure, which is enforced through the issuance of parking tickets, is to allow for better snow removal. The downside to such a ban is that many residents and their guests find themselves unable to store their vehicles anywhere near their homes overnight.  

The Watertown winter parking ban unfairly penalizes those with fewer means who do not have access to off-street parking. During the cold, dark winter months, parents with young children, the elderly, the disabled and many others are asked to walk a mile or two in the dark to go park their car in a remote lot, which then fills up.  

We understand that Watertown officials charged with the responsibility of making our streets safe are calling this a public safety issue, namely that emergency vehicles need to get through and if people park in the street during winter, at night, they cannot.

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Watertown Winter Parking Ban Ending Early

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Watertown’s winter overnight parking ban has ended early! The Watertown Police Department sent out the following announcement:

The Winter Parking Ban has ended effective immediately, today, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. 

If there is a snowstorm in the next few weeks, it will go back into effect.

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Watertown Winter Parking Ban Dates Announced

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Watertown Chief of Police Thomas F. Rocca has announced the 2023-2024 Winter Parking Ban dates. Effective Monday, November 27, 2023 and continuing to Monday, April 1, 2024 the Winter Parking Ban will be in effect and strictly enforced. The regulation reads in part; “No vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between the hours of 1AM and 6AM all days of the week”. For residents who lack sufficient off-street parking, the City allows for temporary parking at any municipal parking lot and other locations noted:

Municipal parking lot Behind CVS at 27 Main Street – Use metered spaces only. Municipal parking lot Behind the Public Library – 123 Main Street

Municipal parking lot Behind CVS at 655 Mt.

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Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban Will End Early

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The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

Winter Parking Ban ends effective Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 12:00 pm. The City of Watertown will lift enforcement of the all night parking ban effective Wednesday March 15, 2023 at 12:00 pm subject to weather and future emergency conditions. The Department of Public Works, Police Department and Fire Department would like to remind motorists that keeping the streets clear allows for road repairs, street cleaning and easy access for public safety vehicles. To that end, all Departments encourage residents to make full use of off-street parking when it is available.

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Overnight Winter Parking Ban Back into Effect in Watertown

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The City of Watertown made the following announcement:

Reminder, effective today, January 2, 2023 and continuing to April 1, 2023 the Winter Parking Ban is back in effect and strictly enforced. The regulation reads in part; “No vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between the hours of 1AM and 6AM all days of the week.”

For residents who lack sufficient off-street parking, the City allows for temporary parking at any municipal parking lot and other locations noted:

– The police station at 552 Main Street (visitor’s parking lot only)

– Any public school parking lot- Victory Field parking lot- O’Connell Park, 341 Mt. Auburn Street (lot at the corner of Boylston Street and Mt Auburn Street only)

– Filippello Park parking area, 191 Grove Street (No parking in the spaces along the driveway)

– 101 Morse Street – 14 spaces at the rear of the parking lot (currently being constructed, available once completed)

Please remember that parking your vehicle upon any sidewalk is prohibited. Your cooperation in keeping the streets clear of overnight parking and your sidewalks clear of snow and ice will make for safer driving and walking conditions and at the same time, allow the opportunity for the Public Works Department to perform necessary street cleaning and maintenance. There are two municipal lots in Watertown Square:

– Behind CVS at 27 Main Street – Use metered spaces only

– Behind the Public Library – 123 Main Street

There is one municipal lot in Coolidge Square:

– Behind CVS at 655 Mt.