The New York City Department of Transportation has removed 175 parking spaces on the Upper West Side, framing it as part of their ongoing efforts to discourage car use in the city and address issues related to the $9 congestion pricing.
A notice recently introduced indicated a new 3-hour meter parking arrangement through an app that now affects a stretch from West 73rd Avenue all the way to West 86th Avenue. This change converts previously unmetered areas between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue to paid parking zones.
The updated parking fees require vehicles to pay $5 for the first hour and $8.25 for the second hour, with charging hours set from 8 AM to 10 PM daily, excluding Sundays. Before this, parking was free except for 90-minute intervals twice a week for street cleaning. It’s worth noting that the app doesn’t allow for payments beyond two hours.
Abraham Pariente, a local painter living on West 72nd Avenue, expressed frustration, stating, “I live here and I pay taxes, but now I can’t even park because they’ve raised those signs.” He criticized the new system, reflecting on how it complicates parking, especially as individuals from New Jersey and Connecticut seek spots in the area.
Since January, Pariente has noticed a significant increase in the difficulty of finding parking, especially after commuter vehicles began flooding the area to avoid the $9 fee that kicks in south of 60th Avenue. He remarked that even if drivers think they can evade congestion pricing, the city’s strategies seem designed to squeeze more money out of them.
“It’s like the city is saying, ‘We don’t want you driving here,'” he stated.
Another resident, Tommy Truglio, echoed this sentiment, arguing that the city is essentially imposing what feels like additional taxation on car ownership. He described the situation as nothing more than a complex system for fines and ticketing, noting that owning a car in New York can feel burdensome, especially with two young kids requiring a stroller.
On a Thursday morning, Sam Johnson, 26, was parked on West 73rd Avenue and remarked, “It feels like a bit of a scam,” as he observed the new signage.
The initiative is part of the DOT’s “Smart Curbs” program, which will be discussed at the upcoming Community Committee 7 meeting in October.
Emily Jacobi, an organizer from a nonprofit focused on transportation alternatives, stated in a DOT press release, “Parking isn’t the best use of our valuable curb space.”
This week, a letter addressed to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, which included input from Community Board 7 and City Councilman Gale Brewer, criticized the agency for not adequately informing the public about the start date of this initiative.
Despite the pushback, the DOT asserts that the plan aims to enhance access to businesses along the Columbus Avenue corridor and provide better curb space for community needs.
