Free 2-hour parking in parts of New Bedford to boost local shopping and dining

NEW BEDFORD — Tis the season for free, two-hour parking in two city garages and along Acushnet Avenue in the North End.

The city is reviving its holiday parking program this year to encourage holiday shopping, dining, and retail activity in New Bedford’s downtown and North End business district through December, said city officials in a news release.

The Holiday Parking Program begins Monday, Nov. 29 and runs through Friday, Dec. 31. There will be two hours of free parking at the Elm Street Garage and the Zeiterion Garage downtown, along with two hours of free parking at meters along Acushnet Avenue in the North End.

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In addition to the free two hours, shoppers will be able to have tickets forgiven with same-day sales receipts. Anyone parked in either of the downtown garages or at a meter in the Acushnet Avenue business district, who receives a ticket as a result of parking longer than the two free hours, can have the ticket forgiven by presenting a same-day sales receipt from a downtown or North End merchant or restaurant, the news release noted.

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The receipt must be for spending at least $10 and must be presented or mailed to the Traffic Commission office at the Elm Street Garage within three weeks (21 days) of receiving the ticket. The parking ticket will be forgiven with the presentation of the same-day receipt.

The Traffic Commission office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Questions regarding the Holiday Parking Program can be directed to the traffic commission office at 508-961-3153.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Free 2-hour parking in parts of New Bedford to boost local shopping