Westfield sets daily commuter parking rate at $7 and moves to online permits; Watterson Lot to accept daily passes

The Town Council approved a change to commuter parking rules that will raise the longstanding $5 daily rate in the main South Avenue (Train Station No. 3) lot to $7 and roll out a digital platform for daily passes and permit renewals.

Council members said the town will begin selling daily passes online beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the day of use, allow online permit purchases and digitize the wait list for permits. The council also authorized selling daily passes for the Watterson Lot (Lot No. 6 near Holy Trinity School) for the first time to expand commuter options.

The measure was adopted as a resolution during the Public Safety, Transportation and Parking Committee portion of the meeting. Councilors said the digital system will prevent cars from queuing in the lot early in the morning and provide commuters a way to buy permits without going to the parking office in person.

Council members said commuters had paid $5 for decades and the modest rate increase will coincide with the platform’s rollout, anticipated by the end of the year.

“The daily passes will drop at 12:01 a.m. the day of; you could buy your ticket then,” a council member said during committee discussion. Councilors and town staff said the online system will also support permit renewals and wait‑list management later in the year.

Speakers quoted in this article are listed in the attribution roster below and come from committee remarks during the meeting.