Is the Department of Transportation laying the groundwork for market rate, on-street parking? From a DOT media release yesterday: 

New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan today joined State Senator Marty Golden to announce the installation of credit card friendly Muni-Meters along 86th Street in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The Department of Transportation (DOT) installed 58 Muni-Meters along the busy commercial strip and the adjacent north/south streets between Bay 14th Street and 21st Avenue, replacing roughly 330 traditional single space meters.

“Parking just became a little easier for drivers who visit one of Brooklyn’s busiest shopping centers,” said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. “But Muni-Meters do more than provide additional payment options for drivers; they also help reduce clutter on the sidewalks and improving the quality of our public spaces is an important component of Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC initiative.”

“By installing these Muni-Meters we are creating much needed parking along one of our busiest and finest shopping districts in Brooklyn,” said Senator Marty Golden. “I commend Commissioner Sadik-Khan and the Department of Transportation for recognizing the significance of this location. Bensonhurst welcomes this change — the storeowners, the shoppers and the community.”

Muni-Meters were first introduced in 1996 and offer numerous advantages to traditional single space meters. For drivers, they increase parking capacity by allowing cars to park closer together. They also enable the City to improve traffic flow by charging vehicles progressively higher fees for longer stays, encouraging shorter stays and creating more turnover. This increased turnover reduces double parking and cuts the amount of time drivers spend “cruising” for a parking spot. Muni-Meters also allow for more flexible payment options and they create more sidewalk space for pedestrians –- one Muni-Meter can replace up to six single space meters.

Since the completion of a 2005 pilot project in Midtown Manhattan, DOT has installed or upgraded 1,300 Muni-Meters to accept credit cards along commercial strips in all five boroughs.

Photo: DOT