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To Allay Parking Concerns, NYC Pushes Permit Plan

For many years, several NYC communities have sought a way to discourage outside motorists from parking their cars long-term throughout their residential neighborhoods. The idea is that these drivers displace local residents from parking close to their homes, reduce business activity by limiting the turnover of spaces used by shoppers and others utilizing services in a community, and contribute to air pollution as they search for a parking spot. Yesterday, NYC DOT and Mayor Bloomberg’s office announced a new program intertwined with congestion pricing that would provide parking relief: residential parking permits (RPP).

The program is not “one-size-fits-all” and would be tailored by neighborhood to address specific needs. Restrictions will be determined by neighborhood parking patterns. Residents interested in RPP must submit a request to their Community Board, which will then be required to hold a public meeting. The Board’s plan must be approved and submitted to the Borough President and local City Councilmember. Both must approve the plan for implementation. For more information on how a parking permit program would operate, readers can view an NYCDOT handout here.

However, the RPP program is contingent on the passage of congestion pricing as the program will be written into congestion pricing legislation soon to be introduced in the City Council and State Legislature. Of course, in research compiled during 12 neighborhood parking workshops throughout the city, NYC DOT found that in many neighborhoods that border the congestion pricing zone, by 5:30 am 91-98% of parking spaces were occupied — in other words, there’s no room in most neighborhoods bordering the zone for “park-and-riders” anyway. The RPP program should help ease the minds of citizens and elected officials who want congestion pricing because of the transit benefits and reduction in through traffic it would bring to their neighborhoods, but worry that it could bring drivers looking to park.

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Ron Baron
Ron Baron
16 years ago

CONGESTION PRICING A BAD IDEA!

3/13/08

A TOLL IS JUST A TAX – BY ANOTHER NAME
– Many of us school our children in Manhattan because of the poor quality education available here in Williamsburg. We were fortunate that our daughter Ruby was accepted into a Gifted and Talented school NEST+m on the Lower Eastside Ave. D and Houston. We carpool daily because it is a short distance by car (15 minutes) but an hour each way by subway and bus transfer. The expense of the TOLL/TAX (don’t let the Republicans say that this is not a TAX- they are increasing TAXES if they support this plan) would increase our out of pocket expense by as much as $140 a month. We like most families are on a limited budget. Too, our ability to take our child to school via public transportation is not an option because of the time involved and job commitments.

PARKING ISSUES – A NEED FOR A LOCAL PERMIT
-If congestion pricing is instated I think that Williamsburg should qualify for a LOCAL PARKING PERMITS for its residence. Even now people from other neighborhoods come to Williamsburg (I live on Driggs between N. 6th and 5th) to park on the street in the morning to ride the subway (BEDFORD) one stop to Manhattan. Between the out-of-control boom in Condo Developments and the influx of thousands into our neighborhood the impact of Congestion Pricing will create total gridlock for traffic and parking to our once sleepy -off the beaten track neighborhood. I have lived here since 1991 when artists like myself came here to escape the high rents elsewhere.

STREET PARKING REGULATIONS -PROBLEMS
-Finally, street parking is a huge issue here in Williamsburg and only getting worse. Many of the streets that once had single story factory buildings are now being converted into condos continue to enforce parking regulations zoned for businesses i.e. no parking from 8-6pm. These streets are N.10th – N.4th. I urge you to attempt to change these regulations to open additional parking spaces for the Local Residence.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my thoughts regarding the negative impact of Congestion Pricing on the residence of my neighborhood.

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