Congestion Pricing and Resident Permit Parking
Regardless of your position on the Bloomberg administration’s proposal for congestion pricing in Manhattan, it’s not hard to imagine how the implementation of such a plan could have a very negative trickle-down effect for those parts of the outer boroughs that are both close to Manhattan and serviced by major subway lines. As Sheldon Silver…
Regardless of your position on the Bloomberg administration’s proposal for congestion pricing in Manhattan, it’s not hard to imagine how the implementation of such a plan could have a very negative trickle-down effect for those parts of the outer boroughs that are both close to Manhattan and serviced by major subway lines. As Sheldon Silver said, “Some of those areas will become parking lots for the people driving around looking for parking spots in order to avoid congestion pricing fees.” To counter such criticism, Bloomberg has has floated the idea of making resident-only permit parking available (for a modest annual fee) in neighborhoods like Park Slope, Downtown Brooklyn and Long Island City. Queens Councilman John Liu isn’t buying the idea. “It doesn’t necessarily improve the situation, it just shifts the boundary of contention,” said Liu. “It sounds great, but I think the implementation would be a hard stretch.” Of course, there’s also another reason that residents of certain neighborhoods may want parking permits soon: Atlantic Yards. Are you in favor of resident-only parking permits?
Bloomberg Eying Resident-only Parking Permits [NY Daily News]
Photo by new hobby
“So do not expect any mass transit improvements nor any relief from congestion.”
in case you haven’t noticed, there have been SIGNIFICANT improvements to nyc’s tranist system over the last 5-10 years. if you don’t realize that, you haven’t been living here long enough.
new cars, renovated stations, uber clean compared to what they were, new hybrid buses as well as new bus stations.
you all want a whole new subway system overnight??
The NY SUN had an excellent editorial on the subject yesterday. The crux of the editorial was that congetion pricing is really just a new tax that will help the MTA meet its budget shortfall. Evidently the program in London has done squat to alleviate traffic but it has raised a good amount of money. So do not expect any mass transit improvements nor any relief from congestion. the money will go to barely make ends meet at the MTA and perhaps to delay a fare hike to $3.
The black hole that is the MTA will use this new tax and will beg for more, in a year the fee will be doubled to $16. in four years? Who knows? $50 to drive in? It’s New York, taxpayer’s money is cheap.
Its just another tax, to those folks who have never met a tax they didn’tlike, this is for them, for those of us who think New Yorkers already hve to shoulder a huge tax burden -by far the highest in the country- it is not alright. It is not alright to lie to the pbi and to sell a new tax as something else. The congestion in Manhattan may be relieved for wek or two until it gets back to the way it was before just with a new tax.
Has there been any expert comment on this issue? There seem to be a lot of feelings going around here (as whenever use of one’s property is involved, it seems), but I am curious how in theory this should work, optimally and also in practice. And with the monies generated from congestion pricing and residential permits, what will be going to alleviate problems of mass transit, of no transit, how would transit be expanded, how would it be made to serve all of us? I have heard little of fact in this debate and little information from political sources who float large ideas with little or no details (released to the public or discussed in back rooms). Anybody have links to any real proposals, studies or possibilities?
Has there been any expert comment on this issue? There seem to be a lot of feelings going around here (as whenever use of one’s property is involved, it seems), but I am curious how in theory this should work, optimally and also in practice. And with the monies generated from congestion pricing and residential permits, what will be going to alleviate problems of mass transit, of no transit, how would transit be expanded, how would it be made to serve all of us? I have heard little of fact in this debate and little information from political sources who float large ideas with little or no details (released to the public or discussed in back rooms). Anybody have links to any real proposals, studies or possibilities?
Dear 2:16,
I hear you and of course what you say is absolutely true, however there is no point in arguing with the antis, they are a little nutty, like religious fanatics. My advise is to just agree, nod, and say uh-huh, while you attend to the business of having a real life and caring for your family.
2:16, my first reaction was well too bad, take the subway. That’s what it is there for. You live in a CITY – it is not ment to be driving all over in your huge SUV taking 3 normal parking spots so you can avoid a little walk.
But, I do understand your comment about the subways. It is a disgrace the current shape they are in. The stations need to be “gut renovated” and the old trains all need to be replaced with new clean ones.
And the police need to keep the damn homeless people off the subway who sleep in the cars and piss in the corners. Throw them all in jail or ship them off to Guantanamo – whatever – just get them the heck out of the subway!
It is true that many MANY cars in park slope are looking for parking (on the streets, not the avenues). I can tell immediately. They drive slow, and pause before each hydrant spot before the hydrant is visible. I’m one of them, and I live here. The street parking situation is insane.
Bring in the 2 hours max for non-residents right now. Nobody can visit anymore? bullshit! take the freaking subway, or pay for a parking garage, or wait like everyone else has to for a spot. Most slopers don’t have people coming in for all night parties by car anyway.
The other option would be to introduce ticket machines (very expensive ones) like they have in the city now, pay and display, and resident exemption stickers. Why should the area offer unlimited free parking to outsiders when the garages can charge over $20 for a couple of hours?
Maybe if you had thought of the environment before binging on child conception, you wouldn’t have this problem!
Just kidding. (Figured I’d post this before someone else posted it seriously.) But while I don’t begrudge your right to drive, I don’t think the city should base its policy on making driving as convenient as possible for you–especially a city as densely populated as New York.
Sounds like you’d gain some and lose some, like most of us would, but the city’s concern should bee what serves the greatest overall good.
Anti car people. I have 3 kids under 5.
It would take me either 2 trains or 2 buses to take my son to preschool vs a 15 min car ride.
I am 50 /50 on the permit parking it would depend on how it works.
I have this one guy on my block who has 3 cars and all he does is move them from one side of the street to the other and drives 1 car away. So if permits get rid of those annoying people I am all for it
You all say take the train, have you ever tried to take a train by yourself with 3 kids under the age of 5.
Please do not give me this oh New Yorkers are great and help you down the stairs with the strollers..
If every station had a elevator from street level to platform level, maybe more people would take the train.
Maybe clean bathrooms at every stations.