D.1.5 Parking

Initiated by: Director of the Facilities and Services
Approved by: Chief Operating Officer
Date: May 1, 1987
Revision: #14, January 2, 2024
Distribution: MBL Community

1.0 Policy Statement

  • 1.1 MBL parking areas are available for employees, researchers and visitors in accordance with the protocols identified in this policy.  Issuance of an MBL parking permit does not guarantee parking.  Parking permits are required year-round.
  • 1.2 The MBL is not responsible for vehicles parked in or traversing through MBL lots.  Parking in MBL parking lots is at the vehicle owner’s risk.
  • 1.3 Owners of MBL parking permitted vehicles are encouraged not to park at meters or side streets in the village.

2.0 Non-Eligible Parking Permit Candidates

  • 2.1 Individuals that are specifically excluded from being issued a parking permit unless they have another status (i.e. PI), include the following:
    • 2.1.1 MBL Council or MBL Society Members
    • 2.1.2 Habitual Parking Policy Offenders

3.0 Permit Issuance

  • 3.1 All parking permits are managed by the Transportation Services and Grounds Department and are issued by the Housing Office, located in the Swope Building.  Only parking permits issued during the current year are valid.
  • 3.2 Vehicle Information
  • Certain information such as person’s name, vehicle registration, work location, telephone extension, etc. will be required on the parking permit applications.
  • 3.3 Driver’s information
  • A space on the parking permit has been provided for the telephone extension where the driver can normally be reached.  This number will be written on the parking permit by the Housing Office, prior to issuance.
  • 3.4 Issued Quantity
    • 3.4.1 Only one parking permit per person will be issued initially.
    • 3.4.2 Anyone requesting a second, current year red or green parking permit, must obtain written approval. Requests for additional stickers must go through the Grounds and Transportation Department. They can be reached by phone at 508-289-7326 or by e-mail at rkaski@mbl.edu or parking@mbl.edu stating a valid reason why a second parking permit is required, instead of using a temporary parking pass.  Written approval must be obtained each year a second parking permit is requested.  (Parking permits are not issued on previous year’s status).

4.0 Parking Permit Type

  • 4.1 Green Parking vehicle Permits – On Campus Parking
    Green parking permits allow for on campus parking. Those eligible for green permits are:
    • 4.1.1 All Full or Part Time, Year-Round MBL employees and faculty
    • 4.1.2 Education Courses: 1 course Director and 1 course manager per course.
    • 4.1.3 Whitman Scientists: Very limited at discretion of Director of Research.

      Approval of a green parking permit does not guarantee approval in subsequent year(s). Vehicles with green parking permits are allowed to park in MBL campus parking lots at any time, however having a green sticker does not guarantee an on-campus parking spot. Parking is on a first come first serve basis for those with green stickers.

  • 4.2 Red Parking Permits

    Red parking vehicle permits allow on-campus parking from September through May and off-campus parking during the summer. Those eligible for red permits are:

    All people associated with Education Department courses, Research Whitman Labs or approved programs.

    Vehicles with red parking permits are to park in the Devil’s Lane Parking Lot during the summer. Free shuttle service to the MBL campus is available during the day (see posted shuttle schedule for days and times).

    Vehicles with red parking permits are allowed to park in lots Lillie, Loeb, Swope, Broderick and Bar Neck during the summer season from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. during weekdays, and anytime on weekends and holidays.

  • 4.3 Handicap Parking Permits
    • 4.3.2 Anyone with a state approved handicap placard, and a current year red or green parking permit can park in designated MBL on campus HP parking spaces. State placard needs to be displayed in vehicle when parking in a HP spot.

5.0 Temporary Parking Passes and Reserved Parking

Divisions/Departments bringing in visitors, MBL Council members and outside vendors should obtain a temporary parking pass from the Housing Office during regular hours or Campus Security Department during off-hours.

  • 5.1 Temporary Parking Passes
    • 5.1.2 Temporary parking passes may be written up to 1 week at a time but are not valid for more than 1 week at a time.
    • 5.1.3 Temporary parking passes are not valid if the “period issue” date has been altered in any way.
    • 5.1.4 It is the responsibility of the person issuing the visitor parking pass to inform all visitors of the parking policy.
    • 5.1.5 It is the responsibility of the person receiving the visitor parking pass to clearly display it inside the vehicle on the driver’s side of the dashboard, so that it may be clearly seen through the windshield.
  • 5.2 Reserved Parking
    • 5.2.1 Reserved parking may be requested for limited parking purposes (i.e. candidates interviewing for jobs, visitors for the office of the President/Director, service vendors or contractors, etc.)
    • 5.2.2 Requesting Division/Department should email a parking request to parking@mbl.edu Information needed includes time, duration, and requested lot of parking reservation so we can maximize utilization of on-campus parking spaces.
    • 5.2.3 Service vendors and contractors will be directed to park in alternative spaces as much as possible to help alleviate parking congestion on campus.

6.0 Permit Placing

  • 6.1 Parking permits are to be placed on a rear left window of the vehicle. Pickup trucks, etc. that may have the permit obscured on the rear-view window may place the permit on the driver’s window (left side). If in doubt, ask for assistance. Make sure to remove the prior year’s permit before placing the current year sticker.
  • 6.2 Anyone issued an MBL parking permit is asked to remove the parking permit from their vehicle if they are no longer going to remain at the MBL. Anyone selling their vehicle should remove their parking permit before the vehicle is sold.

7.0 Parking Locations

  • 7.1 The MBL has 5 on-campus parking areas – Lillie, Loeb, Swope, Broderick and Bar Neck. Off campus parking is at Devils Lane. All driveways must be kept clear. Any vehicles blocking driveways or access through parking lots will be towed.
  • 7.2 Devil’s Lane Parking Lot – Off Campus
  • Any vehicle with a current year parking permit of any color may use this location. The parking lot is approximately 1 mile out of the village and is close to the Shining Sea Bike Path. Bike racks and a storage shed are available at no charge.
  • 7.3 Parking Lots Lillie, Loeb, Swope, Broderick and Bar Neck
  • These parking lots are considered on-campus and red permit parking is restricted in part during the mandatory off campus parking shuttle season.
  • 7.4 Bar Neck Road Property
  • The Bar Neck Road property is open for regular use on most days for Green parking stickers. Special parking will be authorized from time to time at the Bar Neck Road property for conferences and other sanctioned events. When events are utilizing the parking lot some or all spaces may be unavailable for green sticker parking. Transportation Services will coordinate event parking and communicate changes in parking availability to staff.
  • 7.5 Stony Beach Parking -
  • During the summer parking at Stoney Beach lot is used for the Town of Falmouth beach use. MBL Green Parking permits do allow parking at beach parking lot year-round. Any current year red parking permit will allow parking at MBL’s Stoney Beach parking lot during Off-season.

8.0 Parking Enforcement and Towing

  • 8.1 The Campus Security department oversees and provides the enforcement of all parking policies and violations.
  • 8.2 Parking tickets will be issued to violators.
  • 8.3 Vehicles will be towed and stored at the owner’s expense for any of the following reasons:
    • 8.3.1 The vehicle does not have a valid parking permit or visitor parking pass.
    • 8.3.2 The vehicle parking permit color is not allowed to park in the lot the vehicle is parked in (See posted parking schedule for parking permit color and season).
    • 8.3.3 The vehicle is in a “No Parking” area.
    • 8.3.4 The vehicle is illegally parked in a handicap space.
    • 8.3.5 The vehicle is parked in a reserved location.
    • 8.3.6 The vehicle is a safety hazard.
    • 8.3.7 The vehicle is not in an authorized location.
  • 8.4 Authorized Towing
  • Towing is authorized only by the Office of the Director of Facilities and Services, the Supervisor of Transportation Services and Grounds, and/or their designee.
  • 8.5 Towing Company
  • Most of the MBL towing will be done by M. Sylvester Towing. They can be telephoned at 508-548-5004. If there is no answer, call 508-540-0118.

9.0 Bike Parking

  • 9.1 Bike racks are located in many MBL areas. All bikes left in bike racks are at the owner’s risk.
  • 9.2 There is a bike garage in the basement of Ebert Hall. Contact the Supervisor of Transportation Services and Grounds for more information at extension 7530.

10.0 Exceptions

Only the Office of the Director of the Facilities and Services can grant any exceptions to the MBL Parking Policy. The Director of Facilities will consult with other senior leaders as needed to review exceptions to this policy.