Blank Stares and a Friendly Garage Owner at LIC Parking Event
Transportation Alternatives Queens Committee Chair Mike Heffron sends this report from last week's neighborhood parking workshop in Long Island City:
The workshop was interesting, there were several tables each with a facilitator, a DOT notetaker (mine happened to be the lovely Dan Ross) and about eight other people. The facilitator led us through the last workshop and then we had four plans to analyze, discuss and write our thoughts down. In a nutshell there were two basic plans, each with Residential Parking Permits, one where residents and local employees would get permits and no one else, one where residents would get permits and everyone else would pay $8 for a one day permit. Then each plan had a "twist" where you could park for free on a street without a permit from say 8-10 a.m. and then would have to move your car across the street to the 10a-12p spot and so on. So two basic plans, each with a "twist" option.
I'd have to say the general concerns at my table were about residents getting parking, employers having parking for their employees, and no parking for anyone else unless they are doing something the speaker approved of. Participants would often say, "So there's nowhere for someone coming to buy something from a store to park," which usually involved me reminding them that there could be meters for those folks. Some people took a narrow view of what the boundaries would be, while others wanted to be able to park anywhere in the 'hood. Two ladies had concerns about people visiting who might drive but wouldn't be able to park anywhere long term, but weren't nuts about the $8 fee plan b/c other people could use it. There was a lot of concern about the new residents moving in, and some folks had the assumption they would all have cars. And it seemed the consensus of participants at the table (minus myself) was that the area needed more garages.
