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November 2, 2011
Council Committee Endorses Residential Parking Permits Over DOT Objections
Streetsblog
by Noah Kazis
The budding nightmare also known as the Barclays Center of Brooklyn™ was the primary impetus behind today's City Council hearing on Residential Parking Permits.
A City Council committee took the first step toward bringing residential parking permits to New York City neighborhoods this afternoon. Details haven’t been worked out yet, but committee members signaled their desire to move forward on a system that would restrict a portion of curbside parking space to use by local residents.
While most council members wanted to see residential parking permits brought to neighborhoods across the city, the Department of Transportation opposed RPP except perhaps in the areas immediately around stadiums.
...Letitia James, whose district includes the Atlantic Yards site, said that RPPs would ease congestion, protect pedestrians and reduce air pollution.
Related coverage...
WNYC, Residential Parking Permits Get Nod from Council Committee
An Albany bill that would allow the city to establish on-street parking permits for neighborhood residents has won the support of the City Council's transportation committee.
Brooklyn councilmember Letitia James, who represents neighborhoods around the Atlantic Yards development, said drivers from outside the city are taking up too many parking spaces, and the problem is going to get worse when the Barclay's arena opens next year.
"A residential parking permit program would discourage all-day parking by commuters who use neighborhoods, as is the case in downtown Brooklyn, basically as a parking lot," she said.
NY1, Parking Concerns Rise Alongside New Brooklyn Arena
Trying to get a parking spot around Downtown Brooklyn most of the time is futile, but ask residents and they will say it's nearly impossible.
"It used to be we could always find a spot on our block a few years ago. And now it's pretty rare," said one Park Slope resident.
With the Barclays Arena set to open next September, residents are bracing for even more gridlock. More than 200 events are planned at the arena every year.
"With more people coming, more people working in the area, it's just going to get worse," said one Park Slope resident.
Posted by eric at November 2, 2011 6:45 PM