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Dec 5, 2007 8:26 pm US/Eastern
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Congestion Pricing May Lead To Big Parking Problem
Many Fear Drivers May Lose Cars Before Charging Zone
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Congestion pricing is still only a possibility but already steps are being taken by the city to deal with the ripple effects of the program.
As CBS 2 HD has learned, this pricing program may lead to a parking problem.
Most agree congestion pricing might ease the city's gridlock, but it also might create a nightmarish ripple effect on parking outside the charging zone.
Those heading into Manhattan who don't want to pay the congestion pricing fee are likely to dump their cars off in neighborhoods near the city, and take the subway in.
And that could create a nightmare for residents like Evie Torres of Brooklyn.
"People from the neighborhoods come in and drop their cars off here and it's hard for us who live here in Park Slope to find parking," Torres said.
Now citizens in neighborhoods like Park Slope are part of focus groups for the city's Department of Transportation, which wants to know the problems "park and ride" activity might pose. Among the possible solutions, adding a technological touch to the muni-meters in neighborhoods.
"So, for example, you might pay more the longer you stay in a spot, maybe more per hour," said Bruce Schaller of the Department of Transportation.
That would increase the turnover in spots. Another possibility could be issuing residential parking permits which would severely limit who could park where.
"What about people who visit from other states?" asked Javiel De Jesus of Brooklyn. "Then there would be a problem. Where are they going to park?"
It's a delicate dance of what to do, and when.
Depending on what we're trying to accomplish, we'll see. Does it make sense to do this before congestion pricing is implemented, as we implement congestion pricing, or sometime after?" Schaller said.
Whatever is decided may affect people like Brooklyn's Bobby Restaino.
"I'll have to get rid of my car because I won't be able to afford to go into the city and I'll have no place to park," Restaino said.
The City Council and state legislature have until the end of March to approve congestion pricing. That would be in time to qualify for federal funding.
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