Local Town Pages will discuss town updates with Franklin’s Town Administrator, Jamie Hellen, each month.

In addition to welcoming new Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti, as well as touting Franklin’s receipt of a $500,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grant (read about these elsewhere in this Local Town Pages edition) Town Administrator Jamie Hellen notes that the town will open bids for the reconstruction of lower Grove Street later this summer and for the Beaver Street intersection later in the fall.

Hellen addressed recent changes to downtown parking, as well.

“Citizens should really take some time to familiarize themselves with the current downtown parking regulations,” said Hellen. “Some of the street signs are different, and for the first time in downtown history, the municipal lots are now available on a first-come-first-serve basis every day. While there’s no overnight parking in the lots allowed, free parking is available after 6 p.m. until midnight.”

See the new regulations below:

Downtown Parking Lot Rates Effective July 1, 2023

Depot Street Municipal Parking Lot & Ferrara’s Municipal Parking Lot ONLY

Monday - Friday

Times listed below refer to when a customer arrives and begins parking. All parking is first come, first serve and payment can be done via phone app, debit/credit card and coins on a Flowbird payment kiosk. The quarterly lottery permit is not required. Parking rates are:

• 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - $3.00 flat rate all day*

• 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. - $2.00 flat rate

• 6:00 p.m. through curfew is Free!

Please note there is no overnight parking allowed. Police take notice and violators will be susceptible to a $50 fine, per violation. 

*The Administration and Town Council are working to tidy up the parking bylaw that will make the parking lots effective at 5 a.m. for the first commuter train. The final enactment of this change is expected to be in effect for the beginning of August. 

Saturday & Sunday

All daytime and evening parking on weekends is free! Please note there is no overnight parking allowed. Police take notice and violators will be susceptible to a $50 fine, per violation.

Downtown On-Street Parking Modifications

Effective July 1, 2023

• All street parking on residential side streets within the downtown, where allowed, has been merged from two zones into one consistent zone. Monday to Friday 8-2 2HR Parking on certain residential side streets.

• The Central Business Corridor on East Central Street (Alpine PL to the Bridge) through Downtown Main Street (the Bridge to Emmons Street) has a new zone of regulations.

• Monday through Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 2 HR parking maximum.

• No overnight parking seven days a week from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

• Some traffic violations have increased, notably a No Overnight Parking violation is $50. A new list of violations and tickets are Appendix A of the Franklin Town Code.

Additional Information

• Download the Flowbird Kiosk App for your phone. Kiosks have been installed at the Depot Street and Ferrara’s Municipal Parking Lot to accept parking payment. The kiosks accept coin and card, mobile card processing is also available via the Flowbird Kiosk App.

• For online ticketing, please visit the Town’s website. If you wish to appeal a ticket, please contact the Treasurer-Collector at (508) 520-4950.

• The Town is working toward developing materials to promote the new downtown parking availability and will be distributed after Labor Day. A portal has been created on the Franklin Police Department website.

• There will be parking regulations in effect in the Davis-Thayer lot and the Library Parking lots. No overnight parking is allowed in either lot.