August 11, 2022 by Louis Finley<\/p>\n
With congestion pricing on the horizon, Renee Baruch fears parking will become even more competitive in her neighborhood on the Upper West Side.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause spaces are so rare, people don\u2019t want to leave,\u201d Baruch said.<\/p>\n
Drivers may begin paying a toll to get into the city as soon as late next year.<\/p>\n
But as the cost to enter the city below 60th Street nears, Baruch believes there will be an impact on parking in neighborhoods outside the toll zone. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen congestion pricing comes in, it\u2019s going to be a dramatic and unhappy change,\u201d Baruch said.<\/p>\n
She expects people will park outside the congestion pricing zone above 60th Street rather than pay a toll.<\/p>\n
Baruch is rallying her neighbors to push the city to consider residential permit parking.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will mean spaces will be easier to find. And at least the people parking here will be paying taxes here,\u201d Baruch said.<\/p>\n
Upper West Side resident Ellen Zaroff said there should be a solution that balances congestion pricing with the residential parking needs of people living in impacted neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have reasons for wanting slash needing a car, and the city should be able to accommodate them as well as discouraging people from driving in,\u201d Zaroff said.<\/p>\n
Lawmakers have explored the possibility of permits for years. <\/p>\n
In 2019, then Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer presented data from a survey of seven cities that had permit parking, but the idea took a detour.<\/p>\n
\u201cCongestion pricing was postponed. I think this makes this residential parking issues much more apropo to be discussed,\u201d Brewer said.<\/p>\n
Some of the problems to solve include double-parked delivery trucks, people who have second homes outside of New York listed for their car\u2019s registration and the possibility of having more permits than parking spaces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are we going to do that is an effective for both the businesses, the drop-offs and the residents? It\u2019s a very challenging issue,\u201d Brewer said.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Department of Transportation Spokesperson Vincent Barone says:<\/p>\n
\u201cDOT is actively reviewing solutions to better balance the variety of needs at the curb, from commercial deliveries to residential parking. That said, State legislation would be required to create a residential parking permit program.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Baruch said she has no choice but to manage. She hopes the city will consider her push that\u2019s gaining support.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s unbelievable how much pent up demand there is for this. I haven\u2019t been doing this very long and I\u2019ve got 1000 people willing to give me all their information,\u201d Baruch said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
August 11, 2022 by Louis Finley<\/p>\n
With congestion pricing on the horizon, Renee Baruch fears parking will become even more competitive in her neighborhood on the Upper West Side.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause spaces are so rare, people don\u2019t want to leave,\u201d Baruch said.<\/p>\n
Drivers may begin paying a toll to get into the city as soon as late next year.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n