By Brian Denitzio
News Editor

Neighborhoods clustered around Dorchester's four MBTA stations, fed up with commuters who ditch their cars for the day on their streets, are looking to institute Resident Permit Parking as a means to alleviate the problem. Next Tuesday evening, members of the McCormick Civic Association who've lobbied and worked to set up a resident parking program in their neighborhood for over five years will discuss the issue with a representative from the Boston Transportation Department.

"It's been a problem," said Gavin Sherman, a resident of Roseclair Street. "I take the T every day and I walk there, and I notice the streets are always jammed."

Sherman said commuters from Dorchester and other parts of the city park for the day on side streets, and walk to the JFK/UMass station. The problem is especially clear when he sees a marked decrease in the number of cars parked on the streets on the weekend.

"If you would come down Mount Vernon or Buttonwood on a Saturday, it's empty. But Monday through Friday, neighborhood people can't find a place to park," Sherman says.

Sherman and other neighbors went door-to-door, collecting signatures from residents who support beginning a resident parking program. In order for the city to consider the proposal they needed support of a majority of residents in at least a five-street section of the neighborhood. Sherman said that the neighborhood has the required support from residents on Buttonwood, Mount Vernon, Roseclair, Mayhew, and St. Margaret Streets.

Programs can be tailored to suit a community's needs, said Jim Mansfield, spokesperson for BTD.

"We can pick the hours and the days of the week," said Manfield.

Other neighborhoods that witness a glut of commuter traffic during the weekday are also taking the implementation of a resident only parking program into consideration.

Jack Kowalski, president of the Melville-Park Association, said that his group considers cutting down on commuter parking in that neighborhood a priority, but added that the issue is not straight-forward. Melville-Park gets both commuters parking to go to the Shawmut T station, as well as employees, jurors and visitors of Dorchester District Court.

"We need to address the needs of residents, while simultaneously addressing the needs of people who come into our neighborhood to go to work at the courthouse," said Kowalksi.

Melville-Park is not as far into the process as is the McCormack group, but will continue discussions. Sherman and Mansfield both expressed confidence that resident parking will come to the McCormack area in the months ahead. The meeting next Tuesday will be held at Blessed Mother Teresa Parish at 7 p.m.