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Transportation

Transportation

Our department has two missions. The first is to advance public and transportation safety. The second is to manage the Boston’s street network to best and fairly serve all users.

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We strive to guarantee safe and efficient travel into and around Boston. We always consider pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, passengers, and everyone who takes public transportation. Our work attempts to improve safety and traffic flow while balancing residential and commercial needs for street parking. We use coordinated planning, engineering, enforcement, and community engagement to guide our work.

Transportation
Contact
617-635-4680
btd@boston.gov
1 City Hall Square
Room 721
Boston, MA 02201-2026
United States
Monday through Friday, 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.

Upcoming Events

Mayor On Main
Jun 28

Mayor On Main

A woman rides a Hubway bike wearing a white dress and colorful headscarf. A man rides a Hubway bike behind her, wearing a seafoam green dress shirt and salmon-colored pants. A bus stop and deli are visible in the background.
Jun 28

Boston by Hubway

Mayor On Main
Jun 29

Mayor on Main

Mayor On Main
Jul 1

Mayor on Main

More City events

Towing information

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

Mayor Walsh releases first Vision Zero Annual Report
Vision Zero Annual Report
May 10

Mayor Walsh releases first Vision Zero Annual Report

Transportation
Key accomplishments include reducing Boston's speed limit to 25 mph and ensuring all major roadway reconstruction projects include a focus on improving safety.
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Jun 26

Boston by Hubway public bike ride event to take place on June 28

Transportation
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Jun 22

Traffic Advisory for Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25, 2017

Transportation
MBTA travel for Sail Boston
Jun 15

Traffic advisory for Sail Boston Parade of Sail

Transportation
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Jun 9

Transportation Department putting in place new traffic plan for Dell Avenue in Hyde Park

Transportation
More Transportation news

City of Boston planning

City planning
Vision Zero
Vision Zero Boston

We are working to eliminate fatal and serious traffic crashes in the City by 2030. Add your concerns to our map.

Columbia Road
Boston Green Links

Our city-wide plan will connect people in every neighborhood to Boston’s greenway network.

Boston Complete Streets
Boston Complete Streets

We want to create streets that are great public spaces and last a long time.

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

Bikes and parking

Bikes and parking
We work on all areas of transportation in the City of Boston.
Parking Clerk
Parking Clerk
The office collects fines and fees from parking tickets and manages Boston’s resident parking program.
Boston Bikes
Boston Bikes
The Boston Bikes team works to make bicycling fun, safe, and accessible in the City.

Programs and initiatives

Programs and initiatives

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...

Neighborhood Slow Streets

Neighborhood Slow Streets is a new approach to traffic calming requests in Boston.

Drive Boston

DriveBoston is the City’s program to provide parkings spaces in municipal lots and on city streets for carshare...

Boston Parklets Program

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

Autonomous vehicles: Boston’s approach

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

Performance Parking pilot

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

Traffic and road closures

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.

Projects across the City

Projects
Beacon Street Design Project
Beacon Street Design Project
Commonwealth Ave Redesign - BU Bridge to Packards Corner
Commonwealth Ave Redesign - BU Bridge to Packards Corner
Dudley Square Design Project
Dudley Square Design Project
Fenway, Longwood, Kenmore Design Projects
Fenway, Longwood, Kenmore Design Projects
Melnea Cass Boulevard Design Project
Melnea Cass Boulevard Design Project
Neighborhood Bike Projects
Neighborhood Bike Projects
Redesign of East Boston Central Square
Redesign of East Boston Central Square
Rutherford Avenue / Sullivan Square Design Project
Rutherford Avenue / Sullivan Square Design Project
South Bay Harbor Trail Project
South Bay Harbor Trail Project

Traffic Management and Engineering

Traffic Management and Engineering

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

Guidelines for traffic engineers, contractors, and developers
Guidelines for traffic engineers, contractors, and developers
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.
Guide:

Getting around Boston
Guide:

Having a Car in the City
Guide:

Moving
Guide:

Winter in Boston

More resources

More 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 Zoning Board of Appeal guidelines
Transportation Zoning Board of Appeal guidelines