The City supports people of all ages and abilities moving around the City by foot, bike, subway, bus, or motor vehicle. 

Traffic and Parking Regulations (TPR)

The TPR provides a complete list of Newton's enforceable traffic rules and restrictions, such as speed limits, parking areas, tow zones, and other issues on a granular street-by-street basis. 

Pavement Markings

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Get tips for safer driving and how to drive safely around people walking or on bikes. Download and read our pavement marking flyer. 

1. Bike Lane: This lane is exclusively for people on bicycles. Drivers should stay clear when the line is solid. It is okay to cross or turn only when the line is dashed. Go slow, check for bicycles before turning across a lane; bicycles have the right of way.

2. Combined bike lane / turn lane: Only enter where the line is dashed and when turning right; move as far right as possible to complete the turn. Watch for bikes before entering the lane and while turning.

3. Sharrows: Look carefully for people on bicycles, who are more likely to be using these roads or sections of roads. Do not honk; you could startle the person biking and cause a collision. People biking may use the full lane when deemed necessary for safety. 

4. The Box: Crosshatching in the intersection ("the box") means there is a high potential for conflict for all users. Take special care not to "block the box." A driver blocking the box may be restricting the movement of other vehicles and thus prohibits cross traffic from moving, or obstructing people crossing at crosswalks and people biking in bike lanes. There is a $150 fine for blocking an intersection with or without markings. 

Safety Zones 

Safety zones exist within the proximity of parks, playgrounds, senior citizen housing, hospitals, and childcare centers. Speed limits within a safety zone are set by State law (MGL c. 90 § 18B) at 20mph. 

Vulnerable Road Users Law 

Massachusetts recently enacted new laws aimed at increasing roadway safety across the commonwealth. Drivers must now leave a mandatory 4-foot safe passing distance between their vehicle and vulnerable road users. Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, bicyclists, people using wheelchairs, motorized bicycles, scooters, roadside workers, and others that do not have the protection of a vehicle. Click here for more information. Click here for a downloadable flyer. 

Bike Boxes 

Bike boxes are painted green, with a white icon of a person biking. They provide designated space for people biking to line up and wait at the front of a traffic queue. Bike boxes improve visibility and predictability for people biking. In Newton, there are numerous bike boxes. Bike boxes are planned for Watertown Street and Albemarle Road. 

Back-In Parking (Head-Out Angle Parking)

This is a safer way to park that gives you a clear view of the road as you leave a parking space. For more information, download this one-page flyer. 

RRFB (Rectangle Rapid Flashing Beacon) 

RRFBs are located on both sides of a crosswalk and help drivers see people in the crosswalks sooner, thereby making crossing streets safer. People using the crosswalk press a button which turns on flashing yellow LED lights. Our downloadable flyer lists recent locations of RRFBs. More locations are planned for 2024. 

Blue Zones and Yellow Bus Zones

A curb painted blue in front of a school is for children who can independently get into / out of the car on the curb side. It is meant to be a moving line. Drivers should not leave their vehicle in the Blue Zone. A curb painted yellow in front of the school indicates a bus zone. There is no stopping, parking or pick-up directly in front of the school in the bus zone. 

City Parking Lots

Information is available about municipal parking lots, winter parking restrictions, neighborhood parking districts, and more. Visit Parking in Newton. 

Electric Vehicle Charging

The City currently has 22 EV charging stations, each with two ports, located on City property, including Municipal parking lots, and are all available to the public. For additional and current information, go to our City Initiatives page and under "Greening Newton Transportation," click "Electric Vehicle Charging Stations" in the drop-down menu. 

Zipcars

Zipcar is a car-sharing alternative to car rental & ownership. Zipcar rentals are available at various Newton Municipal lots such as Langley and Beacon Street, the Richardson Street lot, and the 20 Pearl Street lot. Surrounding towns such as Watertown, Waltham, Brookline and Brighton, also supply Zipcar rentals. 

Thank you to TAG Member Jane Hanser for creating the content for our Driving page.