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Transportation

COVID-19 update: Please review our informational page to see how the ongoing public health emergency has affected the Transportation Department.

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Our vision is for Boston's streets to be safe, inclusive, and vibrant. 

Our mission is to plan, build, maintain, and operate our streets in a manner that increases access to opportunities, promotes safety and resilience, and fosters the highest quality of life for everyone living, working, and visiting our City.

Public Records requests

Requesting a copy of records? Check our Public Records Center.

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Contact
btd@boston.gov
1 City Hall Square
Room 721
Boston, MA 02201-2026
Temporary COVID-19 hours
City Hall is only open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Boston Tow Lot

Our Tow Lot is located at 200 Frontage Road in South Boston. Call 617-635-3900 for info.

Towing information

 How to get your towed car back
What you need to know about towing
Look up towed cars online
Register for towing alerts

BOS:311 service requests

BOS:311
Report a pothole
Report a parking violation
Report a broken parking meter
Report a streetlight outage
Report a traffic signal problem
Report an abandoned vehicle

News and Announcements

Latest news
A rendering of the long-term vision showing Blue Hill Ave with protected bike lanes, center running bus lanes, and enhanced pedestrian safety

Blue Hill Avenue community meeting to discuss near-term improvements, long-term vision

Transportation

Coming soon: Boston's first income-tiered electric vehicle car share

Transportation

Second phase of Healthy Streets street transformation announced

Transportation

Street sweeping enforcement to resume in Boston starting August 10

Transportation
More Transportation news

Upcoming events

Events
Logo for Connect Downtown project, with icons of people walking, people bicycling, and a park in a city.
Sep 30

Connect Downtown virtual office hours

Sep 30

Blue Hill Avenue Transportation Action Plan: Update meeting

Sep 30

Blue Hill Avenue Action Plan B3 Parcel Group public meeting

Image for blue hill 3
Oct 1

Blue Hill Avenue in-person office hours (afternoon)

More Transportation events

Go Boston 2030

The City of Boston initiative envisions a bold transportation future for the City for the next five, 10, and 15 years.

Visit Go Boston 2030

Programs and initiatives

Programs

Autonomous vehicles: Boston’s approach

Learn more about our plans for testing autonomous vehicles, and their potential future in the City of Boston.

Bike Share expansion

Want a bike share station near your house or by the best place for ice cream? Now's your chance to let us know.

Boston Complete Streets

Boston Complete Streets provides policy and design guidance. We want to ensure that Boston’s streets are green, smart...

Boston Parklets Program

The program offers residents and local businesses greater public space on which to gather and relax. Parklets are...

Car Share Boston

Car Share Boston offers residents an alternative to personal vehicle ownership. We dedicate parking spaces in municipal...

CharlieCard Access Initiative

CharlieCards decrease transit costs for MBTA riders. We are making these cost-saving cards more accessible.

GoHubs!

We are making it more convenient for people to get around by installing GoHubs! They offer more options to travel, meet...

Neighborhood Slow Streets

The City of Boston’s approach to lowering speeds and improving street safety on smaller, less-busy residential streets...

Performance Parking pilot

Circle less and park easier in Boston's busiest neighborhoods.

Recharge Boston: Electric vehicle resources

First, we need people who drive alone to take transit, carpool, bike or walk to work instead. To reach our carbon...

Tackling distracted driving

Texting, talking, using a map — anything other than driving — is dangerous. Protect yourself and others by keeping your...

Transportation development review

This page is dedicated to transportation development review for large developments.

Projects across the City

Projects
Beacon Street Design Project
Beacon Street Design Project
Blue Hill Avenue Transportation Action Plan
Blue Hill Avenue Transportation Action Plan
Boylston Street in the Fenway
Boylston Street in the Fenway
Brighton Avenue Bus Lane
Brighton Avenue Bus Lane
Cambridge Street (Allston) Safety Improvements
Cambridge Street (Allston) Safety Improvements
Centre South Streetscape Design
Centre South Streetscape Design
Columbus Avenue Bus Lanes
Columbus Avenue Bus Lanes
Connect Downtown: Southwest Corridor Extension
Connect Downtown: Southwest Corridor Extension
Commonwealth Ave Redesign - BU Bridge to Packards Corner
Commonwealth Ave Redesign - BU Bridge to Packards Corner
Dudley Square Design Project
Dudley Square Design Project
Fairmount Line Service Enhancement
Fairmount Line Service Enhancement
Fenway, Longwood, Kenmore Design Projects
Fenway, Longwood, Kenmore Design Projects
Fenway Multiuse Path
Fenway Multiuse Path
Harrison Avenue Design Project
Harrison Avenue Design Project
Hyde Park Avenue Multimodal Corridor
Hyde Park Avenue Multimodal Corridor
Improved Silver Line: Dudley to Downtown
Improved Silver Line: Dudley to Downtown
JP/Rox Transportation Action Plan
JP/Rox Transportation Action Plan
Lower Roxbury Transportation Study
Lower Roxbury Transportation Study
Massachusetts Avenue (Melnea Cass Boulevard to Columbia Road)
Massachusetts Avenue (Melnea Cass Boulevard to Columbia Road)
Melnea Cass Boulevard Design Project
Melnea Cass Boulevard Design Project
Neighborhood Bike Projects
Neighborhood Bike Projects
North Station Area Mobility Action Plan
North Station Area Mobility Action Plan
North Washington Street Bus Lane
North Washington Street Bus Lane
Phillips Square Redesign
Phillips Square Redesign
East Boston Central Square
East Boston Central Square
Roslindale Rapid Bus Pilot
Roslindale Rapid Bus Pilot
Roxbury Safe Routes to School Project
Roxbury Safe Routes to School Project
Rutherford Avenue / Sullivan Square Design Project
Rutherford Avenue / Sullivan Square Design Project
Safer, slower American Legion
Safer, slower American Legion
South Bay Harbor Trail Project
South Bay Harbor Trail Project
Southwest Corridor Crossings project
Southwest Corridor Crossings project
Summer Street Multimodal Corridor Improvements
Summer Street Multimodal Corridor Improvements
Tontine Crescent Tactical Plaza
Tontine Crescent Tactical Plaza
Tremont Street Design Project
Tremont Street Design Project
Warren Street Bus Priority Corridor
Warren Street Bus Priority Corridor

Traffic Management and Engineering

Traffic Management

We're responsible for traffic signals and regulating curb and lane use, among other duties.

Traffic engineering design guidelines and standards
Traffic engineering design guidelines and standards

We have information on design guidelines, plans and specifications, reports and publications, and more.

Traffic regulations and permits
Traffic regulations and permits

We have a number of rules you need to follow if you want to use the City of Boston’s streets.

1
Guide:
Getting around Boston
2
Guide:
Having a Car in the City
3
Guide:
Moving
4
Guide:
Winter in Boston

Traffic and road closures

Have a question or a concern about roads in the City of Boston? There are great resources to find help.
For City of Boston roads
For City of Boston roads

We give updates on traffic and parking through our press releases.

For state roads and highways
For state roads and highways

The Mass. Department of Transportation issues warnings on Twitter.

Public transit updates
Public transit updates

The MBTA runs the subway, bus system, and the commuter rail.

Street Occupancy permits
Street Occupancy permits

You can restrict access to a street or block off a parking spot.

Street closing permit application
Street closing permit application

The street closing process begins at the Transportation Department.

More resources

Resources
How to apply for a valet parking permit
How to apply for a valet parking permit
Abandoned and impounded vehicles
Abandoned and impounded vehicles
How to get a resident parking permit
How to get a resident parking permit
How to get a street occupancy permit
How to get a street occupancy permit
Information on holding a road race or parade
Information on holding a road race or parade
Guidelines for tour buses in Boston
Guidelines for tour buses in Boston
Transportation development review
Transportation development review
Information on motorized bicycles, mopeds, and scooters
Information on motorized bicycles, mopeds, and scooters
Transportation Demand Management for employers
Transportation Demand Management for employers
Office of the Parking Clerk
Office of the Parking Clerk

Meet the commissioner