Meter Rates Rise; City Cites Costs, Boston Commuters

The city of Cambridge raised parking meter rates in the Harvard Square area yesterday from 10 to 20 cents an hour due to "increased costs," Lauren Preston, Cambridge traffic engineer, said yesterday.

"The cost of everything has gone up," Preston said. "The greatest single item is the cost of repair--materials as well as time," he added.

Preston also said he feared Cambridge's streets would become "parking lots for the city of Boston" if rates were not raised.

"People were paying 10 cents and parking all day while taking the rapid transit into Boston," he added. "The police couldn't possibly get around to checking every meter, so they are getting away with it."

Increased Enforcement

Preston said the city recently hired nine parking control officers to help enforce parking regulations.

Preston said he did not know how much revenue the increase would bring in, but that "income in that area is generally quite low."

The city has also raised meter rates in the Central Square area.

Meter rates in Boston are 25 cents for half an hour.