05/19/2025
New Bedford Port Authority Statement on Whale’s Tooth Parking Lot
5/19/25
NEW BEDFORD - Over this past weekend, the New Bedford Port Authority (NBPA) received several inquiries regarding parking and ticketing at the Whale’s Tooth Parking Lot. Much of the confusion appears to stem from parking by intercity rail riders. It is important to note that the Whale’s Tooth Parking Lot is owned and operated by the Port Authority and is not a MBTA lot. The lot serves other users in addition to intercity rail passengers.
We understand the start of intercity rail service and the introduction of train passengers to the lot may have caused some confusion. The NBPA agreed to participate in the MBTA’s free parking promotion when intercity rail service launched in March. This free parking period ended on April 30. While MBTA-owned lots continued to offer free parking past April 30, the NBPA could not accommodate the extended promotion due to the beginning of ferry service. The MBTA correctly notes this on its South Coast Rail website, where The Whale’s Tooth lot, also known as the New Bedford Station, is not listed among the lots with free weekend parking through June 1.
The Port Authority recognizes that not all intercity rail users may have been aware of the expiration of the free parking promotion. In an effort to address the confusion and assist passengers in getting familiar with the Downtown parking lot and station, the Port Authority will be voiding and waiving fines on all tickets issued in the Whale’s Tooth lot through Monday, Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Moving forward, it is important for users to note that the NBPA utilizes a different text-to-pay parking system than “Pay By Phone app” deployed at MBTA-owned lots, such as the lot on Church Street in the North End. The Whale’s Tooth utilizes a “TextToPark” system that is noted on the signs posted throughout the parking lot. Additional signage will be placed in the lot to inform and assist users.
