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Mayor Bloomberg announced a new residential parking permit program today that responds directly to one of the concerns raised by opponents of congestion pricing.  

Here’s the issue:  would some car commuters try to avoid the Manhattan congestion charge by parking in the residential neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and upper Manhattan and then take the subway to get to midtown and lower Manhattan?  And, if so, would this create new congestion and air pollution in those residential neighborhoods?

Here’s the solution:  As part of the congestion pricing program, the City will adopt a residential parking permit program to ensure that residents who currently park on the street can continue to do so, and to discourage commuter park-and-riding in Long Island City, Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill, Forest Hills, Harlem, and the other neighborhoods that have this concern. 

This is a really smart move by the Mayor and his cracker-jack team at the Department of Transportation.  DOT listened to the concerns, held 17 workshops in neighborhoods throughout the City, took in hundreds of public comments, and came up with a smart program that enables communities to create their own parking permit zones that reflect their community’s local needs. 

Nothing is being forced here:  it’s an entirely voluntary program, and local community boards will be free to join the program or not.  But for communities that worry that an unintended consequence of congestion pricing may be more congestion and air pollution as non-residents circle the streets looking for free parking, this should be a welcome development. 

The bottom line:  During the past months of workshops and hearings, the City heard loud and clear that residents wanted a residential parking permit system for New York City.  DOT listened and responded, and created a program that is tailored to meet the needs of local communities. 

Another good step. 

Stay tuned.