Bostonians will be able to access real-time information on parking inventory and street sign rules. Through this publicly accessible map, questions on parking rules can be answered in seconds.
“Like Boston itself, our curbs are a dynamic place of potential. Our tools and strategies similarly are evolving,” said Amelia Capone, Director of Parking and Curbside Management. “With the real-time data that this tool will provide, our teams will be better positioned to balance and serve the diverse needs of people and businesses across our city.”
The Transportation Department and Office of the Parking Clerk are committed to ensuring curbside management meets local needs, as demands change and our City grows. In the last 5 years, the City of Boston has seen a 7 percent increase in the number of registered passenger vehicles. The latest City of Boston population projections reflect a 34,000 increase in the next 10 years. Curb usage is evolving, including the MBTA Bus Network Redesign, new street cafes, food takeout zones and electric vehicle charging.
As demands evolve, our problem solving must become more innovative. Revolutionizing transportation technology saves time, saves money and allows planners to serve more Bostonians. Residents can always request parking and curbside changes and report problems to Boston 311, and new transportation technology could prevent frustration and issues for residents, business owners, and drivers frustration.
“AI offers a unique possibility of creating a better experience for our residents to understand complex parking regulations,” said Santiago Garces, Chief Information Officer. “We will be able to experiment with completely new technologies in a responsible way, and address concerns from our neighbors.”
This project also fosters partnership with other cities across the country. This digitization project was recently included in a case study from Harvard’s Data-Smart City Solutions at the Bloomberg Center. Nine other SMART Grant recipients – including Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Seattle – are also pursuing curb modernization projects. Boston joined the Open Mobility Foundation’s SMART Curb Collaborative, working together with these cities to identify shared problems and work together on solutions.
