Salem committee narrows tour-bus parking rules, creates October drop zones and deletes one proposed stop

The Salem City Council Committee on Public Health, Safety, and Environment advanced changes to the city’s tour-bus parking rules on June 2, moving several existing bus parking spots, creating temporary 10-minute October drop zones and removing one proposed Bridge Street stop.

Committee members said the changes aim to reduce dangerous bus maneuvers and keep traffic flowing during the city’s busy October period. Christina Hodge, assistant transportation director, presented draft ordinance language and maps showing locations and lengths of proposed parking and drop-off zones.

The changes discussed and advanced include: a 10-minute drop-off, tow-zone on Bridge Street that would begin 20 feet east of the entrance to the Old Salem Jail parking lot and extend 55 feet (October only, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.); a Canal Street change that would cover 525 feet northward opposite Hancock Street for October weekends only (9 a.m.–6 p.m., tow zone); a New Derby Street 10-minute drop-off (70 feet east of Washington Street, continuing westerly 100 feet, October only) that will affect three currently striped metered spaces; an adjusted Washington Square West segment that will be made a 10-minute temporary drop zone during October; and a reconfiguration of Washington Square South that flips year‑round bus parking to the side facing the Hawthorne Hotel and adds a 2‑hour year‑round bus-only segment there while prohibiting parking on the common during October.

Councilors and staff repeatedly framed the issue as a safety and circulation problem, not solely a parking one. Lieutenant Tucker of the Salem Police Department warned that “bad actors” among bus drivers have created safety risks by dropping passengers in the middle of travel lanes, ignoring barricades and signage, and performing risky maneuvers; he said enforcement during October is difficult because officers are stretched and time-limit enforcement requires on-scene observation.

Jeff Swartz, vice chair of the Transportation Commission and executive director of the Salem Chamber, said the Transportation Commission consulted businesses and attractions and that several user groups — including school groups, walking tours and shore-excursion operators — can and often do use one-hour parking in downtown spaces. “School groups are usually in and out in an hour,” Swartz said.

Councilors debated competing goals: keeping buses out of the dense downtown core and making short, high-velocity drop zones so buses move rather than park. Councilor Jersey proposed changing Washington Square West to a 10-minute drop zone (modeled on the Bridge Street wording) and expanding certain October-only areas; Councilor Harvey seconded and the committee adopted the amendment. Later the committee voted to remove the proposed Bridge Street paragraph from the ordinance after members expressed safety and sight-line concerns in that hill area.

Committee members directed staff and the Transportation Commission to continue work on signage, enforcement approaches and communications to bus companies so drivers know the new rules. Staff said the ordinance changes define where buses may legally park or drop off; enforcement of driving maneuvers or heavy-vehicle routing would involve motor‑vehicle laws, other city ordinances and, for restrictions on travel routes, possible MassDOT review or petitions.

The committee also discussed longer-term options: designated bus routes, peripheral parking or staging lots outside the downtown “donut,” and better outreach to bus companies. Jeff Swartz said businesses and attractions had advised that many downtown visits — notably those to the Witch Museum and organized walking tours — can be completed within an hour, but several councilors urged drop-only zones to keep buses moving and reduce illegal mid-street unloading.

The committee voted to retain year‑round one‑hour parking language in the ordinance where already specified, but overlay October-only 10‑minute drop zones in the problem areas; it removed Bridge Street from the draft and sent the revised ordinance forward for full council consideration with those committee amendments. Staff said they will measure and finalize exact distances and sign wording before the full-council hearing and will return with updated language and maps.

The committee’s action does not change enforcement authority: parking violations remain city ordinance matters enforceable by police and parking enforcement; broader route restrictions would require engineering review and MassDOT approval.

For now, the next steps are administrative: finalize ordinance text to reflect the committee’s amendments, update signage and outreach materials, and continue coordination between the Transportation Commission, police and business stakeholders ahead of October.