BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER ____________________________________________________________________________________
PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION Services
_______________________________________________________________ Boston Medical Center Boston University School of Medicine Boston University School of Public Health Boston University School of Graduate Medical Science Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine
INTRODUCTION This brochure provides information regarding parking and transportation services available to Boston University Medical Center (BUMC) patients, visitors, faculty, employees, staff, and students. The BUMC Office of Parking and Transportation Services (OPTS) is located on the street level of the 710 Albany St. Garage, Boston, MA. The office is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please contact this office for further information on the material presented here by calling 617-638-4915. OPTS will make every effort to respond fairly to the needs of people coming and going from Boston University Medical Center. Regulations are enforced to ensure an adequate distribution of available parking spaces for BUMC employees, faculty, staff and students as well as patients and visitors. OPTS reserves the right to relocate any vehicle at any time to ensure that the needs of BUMC are met in its changing environment. Thank you for your cooperation. Current information on the BUMC Parking and Transportation Program is available on the BUMC web site under Parking Services (www.bumc.bu.edu/parking) and is distributed as necessary.
PARKING PERMITS Every employee, faculty, staff and student vehicle parked on BUMC property must display a valid BUMC parking permit. A permit allows a vehicle to be parked only in an assigned parking facility. A permit does not guarantee space in BUMC parking facilities, but every effort is extended to accommodate permit holders. Access and egress to all parking facilities are by card access only. Authorized BMC or BUMC ID’s are needed. All permit transactions (issuance, exchanges and returns) are conducted at the OPTS. Permits are issued for up to a 12-month period. A valid vehicle registration and a valid Boston University Medical Center or Boston Medical Center identification must be presented to validate eligibility for a BUMC parking permit. Permits must be clearly visible from outside the vehicle. Parking permits are to be affixed to the rear side window on the driver’s side Altering the information on a permit will result in immediate suspension of parking privileges and/or other disciplinary action, as appropriate, including possible legal prosecution. To apply for the parking permit, please print out and complete the application. It is required that you return the application in person to the OPTS located at 710 Albany Street first level near the entrance to the parking garage.
ALTERNATE VEHICLES If you are a registered parker and temporarily must use an alternate vehicle, you may display a 3” x 5” card on the dashboard of the alternate vehicle which displays the permit number of your primary vehicle. If extended use of the alternate vehicle is anticipated, you may apply to the OPTS for a temporary permit pass. If both the permitted and alternate vehicles are parked at BUMC at the same time, the alternate vehicle is subject to being towed. All vehicles must be registered with OPTS.
BICYCLES, MOTORCYCLES, MOTOR SCOOTERS Bicycles must be parked in a BUMC bicycle rack or cage and are not allowed in any Medical Center buildings. Any bicycle causing an obstruction on BUMC property and/or parked in an area not specifically designated for bicycles may be removed or immobilized by Security.
Motorcycles and motor scooters are subject to the same regulations as motor vehicles. Motorcycles and motor scooters are not allowed inside BUMC buildings. Motorcycles and motor scooters must be registered with the OPTS and parked in one of the motorcycle designated parking areas in the parking facility. Motorcycles and motor scooters may not be parked at a bicycle rack. Any motorcycle and motor scooter causing an obstruction on BUMC property and/or parked in an area not specifically designated for motorcycles and motor scooters may be removed or immobilized by Security. There is $20 annual fee paid to TranSComm for bike cages. Non-gas/ electric powered scooters may also park in the bicycle cages. All gas-powered scooters must park in the 610 garage. Racks for gas-powered scooters are required to have a BUMC sticker issued by TranSComm. The annual cost is $20. Stickers for the bike cages & the motor scooter parking may be obtained at the TranSComm Office located at 710 Albany Street.
SPECIAL PERMITS Employees, faculty, staff and students who require a handicapped parking accommodation must present certification of disability to the OPTS and display an authorized handicapped plate or placard on their vehicle. Carpools and vanpools must be registered with OPTS. Carpools require at least two persons in the vehicle when entering the parking facility. All carpools and vanpools must display an authorized permit on the dashboard or overhead visor. In order to encourage carpools and vanpools, registered participants may be provided preferential parking at the 610 Albany Street Garage.
GENERAL REGULATIONS
Boston University Medical Center and its member institutions (Boston University Schools of Medicine, Public Health and Dental Medicine, and Boston Medical Center) assume no responsibility for vehicle damage, theft or theft of contents of vehicles parked on property of Boston University, Boston Medical Center or Boston University Medical Center. Handicapped parking spaces are available within BUMC parking facilities. A parking attendant may direct a vehicle to an alternative BUMC Parking facility due to limited capacity or operating reasons. BUMC parking attendants may require keys to relocate vehicles. Drivers who wish to transfer to another parking facility may inquire at the OPTS regarding availability and will be accommodated when appropriate. The OPTS reserves the right to terminate parking privileges for violation of parking regulations. Parking for patients and visitors is provided in designated areas. Rates are posted at the entrance.
SECURITY ESCORT SERVICE An escort service to BUMC parking facilities and Broadway Station of the MBTA is available for BUMC commuters and visitors weekdays, midnight to 6 a.m., and at all hours during weekends and official holidays. The escort service can be requested at the BMC Newton Pavilion Security desk, located in the lobby, or at the BMC Harrison Pavilion Security desk on the ground floor of the Dowling Building. People requesting escort services are required to sign the Public Safety register and to present proper identification. Public Safety personnel are not authorized to drop a passenger off anywhere except at his or her vehicle in a BUMC parking facility or at a BUMC facility or Broadway MBTA Station. There are occasional delays when the Public Safety vehicle is being used for an emergency, so please call ahead to Public Safety at 617-638-4444 for BMC East Newton Street Campus or 617-414-4444 for BUMC Harrison Avenue Campus before going to the Public Safety desk.
PERMIT TYPES AND RATES Boston University Medical Center’s Parking and Transportation Services operation is self-funded and rates are intended to meet the overall costs of operation. Rates are generally reviewed annually but may change at any time with a minimum of 30 days notice to registered parkers.
Visitor Parking Facilities: • DOB Garage 6 AM to 11 PM 7 days a week • 710 Albany Street Garage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Note: Parking rates are available at each location. Parking rates and available parking information is available at the OPTS Payment is made by monthly or weekly payroll deduction or through approved prepayment.
Students may prepay for parking on a semester basis. Permit holders who will be away from BUMC for an extended period of time (e.g., maternity leave, sabbatical) may contact the OPTS prior to their departure to temporarily suspend their parking payroll deduction. Parkers who are out of work due to involuntary reasons (e.g., illness, injury, workers’ compensation) and who are not parking in a BUMC parking facility for a minimum of one month (four consecutive weeks for weekly parkers) may have their parking deduction adjusted by filing a request with the OPTS. Parking rates may change. Accordingly, no less than 30 days after publication of any rate change, payroll deduction amounts may be adjusted and/or additional pre-payment may be required.
HOURS OF OPERATIONS WEEKDAYS All employee parking facilities are open 24 hours, 7 days a week Note: On the occasion of a BUMC special event, permit holders may be temporarily reassigned to another parking facility. Advance notice will be provided whenever possible. EVENINGS DOB Garage • Authorized BUMC Permit holders may use this parking facility after 5:30 p.m. but must remove vehicles by 8:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 24 hours weekends and holidays. 710 Albany Street Garage • Authorized BUMC Permit holders may use this parking facility after 2:30 p.m. but must remove vehicles by 8:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 24 hours weekends and holidays.
PERMIT REFUNDS, REPLACEMENTS, CANCELLATION, FEES Refunds on prepaid permits will be issued and payroll deductions will be terminated when the OPTS receives the permit, accompanied by a formal cancellation request. The OPTS must be notified if your permit cannot be returned or a $20 fee will be charged.
If notification of termination is not given, charges will continue to accrue regardless of the permit’s date of expiration. The effective termination date for payroll deductions is either the date on which the permit is received by the OPTS or the last day of employment, whichever is first. If your vehicle is sold, or if the registration is changed in any way, you must return your old permit or provide OPTS with proof of sale, transfer or disposal of your vehicle in order to be issued a new permit. Lost or stolen permits must be reported to the OPTS immediately. Replacement permits (e.g., to replace lost or stolen permits) will be assessed a $20 fee.
TOWING If your vehicle is towed, call BUMC Public Safety at (617-638-4444) for information on retrieving your vehicle. In all cases, towing charges are payable to the towing company upon retrieval of the vehicle. A vehicle may be towed, at the owner’s risk and expense, for any of the following parking violations: • Vehicle not bearing a valid BUMC permit • Vehicle parked in any roadway, fire lane, and aisle or posted “no parking” area or in such a manner that it is blocking another vehicle’s access. • Vehicle parked in a parking facility/ area or a reserved space to which it is not assigned and/or has not been directed to by an authorized representative of the OPTS. • Vehicle found to be in violation of any of the regulations or conditions as specified in this publication. TOWING WITHIN THE PARKING FACILITIES In the event of an emergency, vehicles may be towed to other locations within the BUMC parking facilities.
VIOLATION TICKETS Vehicles in violation of parking regulations may be towed or issued a violation notice. These notices are fluorescent orange and indicate the parking infraction on the reverse side. Multiple violations may result in suspended parking privileges.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TranSComm (originally called the Inter-institutional Transportation Management Association) was incorporated in 1991 to coordinate the transportation needs of people that receive care from, are employed by or study at our sponsoring institutions. TranSComm is a pro-active organization committed to working collaboratively with local, state, and federal agencies to propose and implement environmentally-sound transportation options that decrease traffic congestion and increase air quality for its employees, students, patients, visitors and community members. Please call 617-638-7473 for personalized assistance with your commute. SHUTTLE SERVICES Please note: All schedules are subject to change. Also, the daily routine is dependent on weather and traffic conditions.
All-Day Campus Shuttle This bus operates Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM on a continuous loop, leaving 1010 Massachusetts Ave approximately every 30 minutes. This shuttle travels to the following stops: • 1010 Massachusetts Ave • BMC – Albany St. • BMC – East Newton St. • 560 Harrison Ave. • BMC – Harrison Ave. • BMC – East Concord St. Evening Shuttle This bus operates 5:15 PM until midnight. The evening shuttle makes stop at the Red Line: Broadway & Andrew, the Green Line: Copley, the Orange Line: Back Bay & Ruggles, and on request to Nearby South End neighborhood locations (within one mile). Call for a schedule. VA Shuttle This service links the Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center (VA) in Jamaica Plain with BUMC. Service runs hourly, leaving BMC on the hour and the VA on the half-hour from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Please check the information desk at BMC East Newton St. Schedule may vary. Boston University Charles River Campus Shuttle This shuttle bus travels to and from the Charles River Campus several times daily. Schedule coincides with academic calendar. Call for schedule. MBTA SERVICES
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) provides bus service to the BUMC area. BMC employees may apply for monthly passes via payroll deduction at the BMC Payroll Office. BU faculty and staff may apply for monthly passes via payroll deduction at the TranSComm Office. BUMC students may purchase semester passes at the TranSComm Office, which is located at 710 Albany St.
Buses leave regularly from bus shelters on East Newton St., East Concord St. and Massachusetts Ave. For more information, visit the transportation kiosks or call 617-638-7473 or the automated transportation helpline 617-638-7430. You may also visit the MBTA’s Web page at www.mbta.com or the TranSComm’s web page: www.bumc.bu.edu/transcomm. Transportation kiosks are located in the lobby of BMC Harrison Ave., in the School of Medicine (adjacent to Student Affairs Office), in the lobby of Atrium at BMC East Newton St. and in the lobby of the School of Dental Medicine. For more transportation information or personalized assistance with your commute, call our office at 617-638-7473 or 617-638-7477.
