WORCESTER — If you’ve visited Worcester City Hall this week, you may have already noticed some big changes.
Starting Monday, June 23, the city rolled out new parking and security measures aimed at improving public safety inside the historic downtown building. The most noticeable shift? All public visitor parking has moved from the City Hall garage to street-level spots on Main Street.
“This will allow for a single point of entry for visitors to be screened so we have a clear account of who is in the building and what they are doing if an emergency were to ever take place,” City Manager Eric D. Batista said in a release. “The new 30-minute parking spots will allow for convenient visitation in addition to the many nearby garages and lots.”
To accommodate short-term visitors, the city has added nine 30-minute parking spaces directly in front of City Hall, plus two new handicapped-accessible spots on Franklin Street.
In addition to the parking changes, all public visitors must now use the Main Street entrance, where a new security checkpoint has been installed. Visitors will be screened and required to check in at a kiosk to receive a badge. The Worcester Common-side entrance remains open only for restroom access.
City officials emphasized that there are still ample parking options nearby. Metered on-street parking is available on Main, Front, and Federal streets, with typical two-hour limits at $1.50 per hour. Longer-term parking can be found at nearby garages, including Pearl-Elm, Federal Plaza, Worcester Common Garage, and the McGrath Library lot.
The new protocols are part of a citywide initiative coordinated by Worcester’s Emergency Management & Communications, Transportation & Mobility departments, and the Worcester Fire Department.
City services are also accessible at the Worcester 311 Customer Service Center, located at 799 Main St., and by public transit via several WRTA bus routes.
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