The city Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun alerting local community leaders that all single space parking meters in Queens will be replaced with muni-meters. The DOT also reminded the community that parking rates would rise to $1 an hour under the city’s new budget.
Maura McCarthy, DOT Queens Borough Commissioner, sent an e-mail to local leaders about the changes last Friday. The message, acquired by The Forum, stated that both changes would begin to be implemented on July 18.
“I am sure you are aware of some of the benefits of muni-meters, which provide a convenient pay-and-display system, creating more parking spaces, and reduce unnecessary sidewalk encumbrances,” McCarthy wrote.
According to the DOT website, Kew Gardens Hills will begin receiving new muni-meters on August 8; Ridgewood on August 10; and Rego Park and Middle Village on August 11. Changes in other neighborhoods in the paper’s readership area have not yet been released.
There have been some controversies with the muni-meter system, where a single machine is used for a row of parking spots. In April, the city Council debated a bill that would allow the NYPD to immediately nullify parking tickets if motorists could clearly demonstrate they had paid for the spot within the last ten minutes. There were numerous complaints where motorists claimed they received tickets within the time it took
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the NYPD opposed the plan and said it would lead to dangerous situations for the NYPD if people could argue their case on the street.
The bigger issue for most motorists is the increased parking rates. Various Council Members including Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills), Diana Reyan (D-Bushwick) and James Vacca (D-Bronx) have blasted the proposal to raise parking prices. Business leaders contend that this will be another reason to avoid shopping in Queens and travel to shopping malls outside of the city.
by Eric Yun
