• Parking
• Signs and Signals
• Speeding
• Snow Emergencies
• Miscellaneous

Parking

• Where can I find public parking in the City?
  
  Public parking is available at parking meters located downtown and in a limited number of off-street parking garages. Meter rates are in effect Monday through Saturday, from 8 AM through 6 PM. Parking at meters is free at night and on Sundays and Holidays. To minimize your chances of being ticketed for a meter violation, you should park in a parking space with an appropriate time limit for your anticipated length of stay. As a general rule, parking spaces located curbside on streets in front of most stores allow for parking up to 2 hours. Please park within the delineated spaces, and avoid parking in handicapped parking spaces, loading zones, or taxicab stands.

  The City’s sign shop maintains and repairs all parking meters. If you should notice a parking meter that has been vandalized, or is currently malfunctioning, please report the problem by calling (978) 937-3248. When reporting a meter problem please provide the meter location and identification number.

  Public parking is available at these garage locations.

• What do I do if I get a parking ticket?

  If you receive a parking ticket and you are not sure what to do, please call the City Parking Office at (978) 970-4100. Below is a list of common parking violations:

• Parking in Front of a Driveway: Do not block a driveway or park in such close proximity to a driveway that a person will have a difficult time either entering or exiting a driveway.
• 10 Feet from Fire Hydrant: Do not park within 10 feet of a fire hydrant in any location. It does not have to be posted by signs or a yellow curb.
• 20 Feet from an Intersection: Do not park within twenty (20’) feet of an intersection.
• Curb: Park both front and rear "curbside" tires within 1 foot from the curb or the curb line to avoid parking too far into the street. Do not park over the curb.
• Sidewalks: Do not park on the sidewalk. These areas between the curb and property lines, whether paved or unpaved, are for pedestrians.
• Fog Line: Do not park on or over the fog or edge line which designates the outside edge of the roadway.
• Divided Highway: Do not park in the area between the roadways of a divided highway whether marked or unmarked.
• Crosswalk & Handicapped Access Ramp: Do not park in a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked, or in front of a handicapped access ramp.
• Parallel Parking: Parallel park unless sign, marking, or permit allows angle parking. Motorcycles may angle park in a parallel space.
• Double Parking: Do not stop or park next to another parked vehicle.
• For Sale on Public Street: Vehicles parked for the principal purpose of displaying "For Sale" signs must be parked off of the public right-of-way.
• Expired Registration: Vehicles parked on the public right-of-way must have current registration. 
• Street Storage and Abandoned Vehicles: Any type of vehicle abandoned and/or stored on the public right-of-way in excess of 72 hours will be subject to CITATION and TOW AWAY. This includes boats, campers, trailers, etc.
• Loading Zones: ONLY properly marked commercial vehicles may use loading zones to load and unload.
• Time Limits: A vehicle may not be parked in a metered space longer than the time limit designated - regardless of additional coins deposited or meter malfunction.
• Handicap Parking: ONLY vehicles with an authorized handicap plate/placard may park in a handicapped space whether on a public street, or in a parking lot open to the public.

How do I get a reserved handicapped space?

• If you have a handicapped plate or placard you may apply for a handicapped space outside of your residence. Please fill out the handicap request form which is available on our web page, or at our office. Alternatively, you can petition the City Clerk, and your request will be forwarded to our department.

• Is it OK if I don’t park in my driveway?

  Parking is tight throughout the City. Please be considerate of your neighbors without driveways. Use your own driveway and leave space on the street for your neighbors and visitors. However, if you own a residenceand do NOT have a driveway, and would like to purchase a residential parking sign in order to reserve ONE space, either in front or to the side of your residence, contact Inspectional Services at (978) 970-4036.

• Does the City have a winter parking ban?

  Yes. In a declared snow emergency you can not park on a major street where there are snow emergency signs posted. To find out if a snow emergency has been declared tune into your local TV and radio stations, or call the Police Department at (978) 937-3232.

Signs & Signals

• How do I report a traffic signal that has a burned-out bulb or seems to operate inefficiently?

  Signal problems or questions can be directed to the City Electrician at (978) 970-3333.

• Who do I call to get a sign replaced?

  The City’s Sign Shop manufactures, installs, and maintains most regulatory signs, street name signs, warning signs and no parking signs. Signs are replaced ONLY when damaged or faded. Pavement markings, such as crosswalks and street lane designations, are also repainted each spring. To have a sign replaced, please call the Sign Shop at (978) 937-3248. To get tree limbs or vegetation cut back for visibility, please call DPW at (978) 970-3320.

Speeding

• What can I do to help prevent speeding in my neighborhood?

  If you think you see cars routinely speeding through your neighborhood, request enforcement by calling the Police Traffic Section at (978) 937-3260. When calling to report an incident, be sure to include details, like location and time of day. By contacting the Police Bureau, residents and businesses alert police officers to speeding problems in their neighborhoods. These calls usually bring extra patrols to the trouble spot. In the long run, police may lead to traffic engineering solutions to slow traffic. When you call the Traffic Bureau, be prepared to provide details about speeding on your street. Let them know the specific location and time of day speeding usually occurs. When police enforcement alone isn't solving the problem, the Police Department or the City Council will recommend that the DPD do a traffic study.

• Will a speed limit sign help prevent speeding?

  Installing speed limit signs may seem to be a logical solution to remind drivers not to speed. But new speed limit signs don't seem to change people's driving behaviors. Only where the speed limit changes to a higher or lower speed does the City use its limited resources to install new speed limit signs. Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit throughout the City is 30 mph (and as slow as 20 mph in areas designated as school zones).

• Will STOP signs help slow traffic?

  The city of Lowell does NOT generally install stop signs as a way to slow traffic. The city installs stop signs where there might be a question about who should have the right-of-way to prevent crashes at intersections with high accident rates. When stop signs are installed to slow down speeders, drivers may, in fact, increase their speed between signs to compensate for lost time. This creates an even more dangerous situation. Stop signs in inappropriate places could result in more drivers running stop signs and speeding through neighboring streets.

• What are some creative solutions that will help curb speeding in my neighborhood?

  Some communities have pursued 'traffic calming' measures such as narrower intersections, on-street parking, street trees, textured crosswalks, etc., to reduce the urge to comfortably speed on city streets. For example, sidewalk "bump outs" allow for more sidewalk space for pedestrians and slow down drivers with a larger sidewalk and a narrower street. Simple things such as writing letters to the editor of your neighborhood and community papers can work. Let drivers know that speeding threatens our sense of community and personal well-being. Learn more about transportation and traffic issues. Click on our Helpful Transportation Links page on our web page.

Snow Emergencies

• Does the City have a winter parking ban?

  Yes. In a declared snow emergency you can not park on a major street where there are snow emergency signs posted. To find out if a snow emergency has been declared, tune into your local TV and radio stations, or call the Police Department at (978) 937-3232.

• What do I do if my car has been towed in the event of a snow emergency?

  Call the Police Department at (978) 937-3232.

Miscellaneous

• How do I get a traffic complaint investigated?

  If you would like to discuss a traffic issue, please fill out our on-line form, or call the DPD at (978) 970-7200.

• How does the DPD gather traffic counts?

  Automatic traffic counters are used to collect ‘raw’ speed and volume data. The counters are the metal boxes located by the side of the roadway, connected to rubber hoses placed in the roadway to record vehicles. The data is then downloaded into a traffic data analysis software program and then reviewed by the Transportation Engineer.