With Congestion Pricing set to start June 30th, the countdown is on to one of the most significant transportation policy changes New York City has seen since overnight street parking was legalized in the 1950s.
While the toll applies below 60th street, the benefits of fewer cars traveling into the congestion zone will be shared uptown and across the city.
But change can be hard, and on the Upper West Side, there has been concern that swarms of out-of-town drivers will descend on the area searching for scarce street parking in the hopes of finding a free place to stash their vehicle for the day before hopping on the subway, all to save about the price of a latte (once subway fare and the cost of gas and other driving-related expenses are considered).
Seems like something someone might try just once, before realizing it’s not worth the hassle. Nevertheless, this concern has led to a renewed call by some for a free or low-cost residential parking permit program in neighborhoods like the UWS as a way for car owners to secure the exclusive right to use curb space for themselves.
What this impulse gets wrong is that for residential parking permits to be effective, the cost would likely far exceed what most drivers would be willing (or able) to pay.
What it gets right, however, is the acknowledgment that there is a real cost to having large numbers of drivers bring their cars into our neighborhoods each day, taking up space on the street and at the curb. This is exactly what Congestion Pricing is designed to address.
Not only will fewer cars make our streets safer, our air cleaner, and our neighborhoods quieter, it will unlock the possibility of public space, allowing us to remake our neighborhoods to be more livable and more connected.
Our vision for West 72nd Street is an example of what's possible with less space devoted to cars and trucks.
Change is already coming to West 72nd Street, from the DOT’s ongoing Smart Curbs pilot to a recently announced protected bike lane. The promise of fewer cars offers all manner of opportunity. What does a street for people look like? Who might a street like that be for? How would it improve the lives of everyone who uses it?
Click the link below to explore our vision for West 72nd Street and take action to let elected officials and the DOT know you want change that makes our streets work for everyone.
