July 23, 2004

Parking tips during the DNC

Many MGH employees have been asking questions about where to park if they must drive to the hospital during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) – July 26 to 29.

Below are some guidelines for parking in area garages and lots.

Lomasney (Bubble) garage – The Lomasney garage, located across from the Fleet Center, will be open for MGH staff members who are currently part of the MGH parking program in this garage. For those MGHers who are not part of the MGH parking program, they can show their MGH Photo ID, pull a ticket and park in this garage if there is space available. The garage will probably fill quickly, and employees not in the parking program may be turned away as a result.

Orange Lot and Fleet Center garage – The Orange Lot and the Fleet Center garage will be closed until Aug. 9. MGH staff members who normally park in this garage have been moved to the Yawkey garage.

Haymarket/Safe Harbor garage – This garage will be open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Museum of Science garage – This garage will be open for MGH staff members who are currently part of the parking program for this garage. The museum will most likely be closing early each day, which will not affect MGH parking privileges. When the state police closes the roads, all vehicles exiting the garage will have to turn left and proceed to the intersection of Land Boulevard and the Gilmore Bridge.

Arrangements have been made with the museum to provide additional parking for MGH evening- and night-shift staff during the DNC. Employees may enter after 4 pm and must be out of the garage the next day by 8 am. Partners Transportation will provide shuttle bus service to and from the garage.

Fruit Street and Parkman Street garages – MGH employees who are part of the parking program (have an electronic garage access card) and who normally park in these garages for the evening or night shift can enter after 2 pm. Garage access cards will be reprogrammed for a 2 pm entry for the week of the DNC. MGHers still will need to be out of these garages by 9:30 am to have sufficient space for patients to park. Garage screeners will be in place to monitor access.

Emerson, Whittier, Holiday Inn, CNY garages and Longfellow Lot – There are no changes to the current parking guidelines for these garages.

Any of these garages or lots may initiate searches of vehicles. MGH employees should have their MGH Photo ID accessible.