Residential Permit Parking Is Coming

Feature article in The Grand Street News

Senator Daniel Squadron on the Lower East Side

State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assembly Member Joan Millman, and Council Member David Yassky announced a plan last month to allow New York City to create residential permit parking. The bill encourages the City to implement a parking permit system on residential streets, with fees from permits specifically designated to fund public transit.

According to Millman. "Residential permit parking has seen success in several other cities, such as Washington, DC, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco." Squadron added: "Residents will be able to park near their homes without circling endlessly for a space, and eight million New Yorkers will benefit from a new funding stream for subways and buses."

"For years, I have supported a residential permit parking plan for New York City," said Yassky, adding that the plan "will reduce congestion and illegal parking in our neighborhoods, and improve the quality of life for our residents."

We asked Senator Squadron how we'd get to pick our residential area. "The bill allows the City, in consultation with communities, to create residential permit parking areas," said the Senator. "The bill is very flexible, in that it permits different communities to reach different choices. The bill will allow, for example, residential permit parking between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., to avoid a certain kind of commuter. In other areas, where there may be a constant flow of traffic to tourist attractions, they can have a seven-day, 24-hour residential permit parking. You can really tailor it to the community."

Squadron clarified that on commercial streets, where there might be a conflict between residents and merchants, the residential permit would not apply; likewise along highly restricted sidewalks, such as in front of a hospital. Squadron said that the average cost in other cities for the permit he is proposing is $75 per year.

We asked Squadron, if he knew how the city decided whether to dispense one or two hours on munimeters. "That is a constant discussion with DOT," he answered, agreeing that the one hour limit is driving people crazy. According to him, most of the complaints regarding the chintzy munimeters come from usinessmen, who watch sales being lost because the customer has to run out to purchase extra parking time. The Senator urged our readers to contact him with this and any other specific, DOTrelated complaint, at 212.298.5565 and squadron@senate.state.ny.us (other complaints are welcome as well).