The Town of Dedham is developing a pilot program to test and implement positive changes to the way parking is managed in Dedham Square.

Over the past 18 months, several Town departments and Dedham Square Circle have held multiple discussions and public meetings to gather feedback and information about parking issues and the potential for improved parking management in Dedham Square.

Residents and visitors would notice these changes:

1. The 1-hour on-street parking limit would be doubled to 2 hours.
   
   
2. A few 15-minute parking spaces would be created for short-term parking during peak hours.
   
   
3. Pay stations would be converted to a pay-and-display method. Rather than the current pay-by-number method, users would obtain a parking receipt and display it in their car.
   
   
4. The Town might also enforce a 2-hour parking limit on the 16 highly visible spaces in the first row of the municipal parking lot to encourage turnover.
   
   
5. The Town would provide better directions to Dedham Square visitors by installing more informational signs, directions, and maps to parking lots and nearby amenities.
   
   
6. Off-site parking would be better utlized for office, store, and restaurant employees, so that more parking in the square is available.
   
   
7. Non-commercial vehicles would be kept out of the commercial loading zone on weekdays to reduce double-parking of large delivery trucks.
   
   
8. Enforcement of on-street parking would be increased during the targeted periods Monday through Saturday.

If you would like to provide feedback about the current or proposed parking plan in Dedham Square, please contact Economic Development Director John Sisson, (781) 751-9175, jsisson@dedham-ma.gov.

The proposal will be presented to the Board of Selectmen for discussion in June. The pilot program, if approved by the Board of Selectmen, would run for one-year. Some of the changes might be temporary, while others could become permanent.

-- Katharine Cabot