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Charge Out-of-Towners to Use Park and Ride Lots, Pols Say

By Nicholas Rizzi | March 8, 2016 1:25pm
 Council members Joe Borelli and Steven Matteo plan to introduce legislation to charge non New York City residents $400 a year to park inside Park and Ride lots.
Council members Joe Borelli and Steven Matteo plan to introduce legislation to charge non New York City residents $400 a year to park inside Park and Ride lots.
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DNAinfo/Nicholas Rizzi

STATEN ISLAND — Drivers from New Jersey and upstate may soon have to pay to use Park and Ride lots around the city under a new law being proposed by two Staten Island council members.

Councilman Joe Borelli and Minority Leader Steven Matteo announced Monday they will introduce a bill to create a New York City resident permit program for Park and Ride lots that would aim to cut down on the amount of out-of-state drivers who park there.

Under the proposed law, residents would get a free permit for the lots — which are operated by the city's Department of Transportation — while non-residents would have to pay $400 annually.

"The fact is, New Jersey residents don’t pay the MTA taxes that subsidize their rides and they don’t pay the income taxes which paid for building the Park and Rides," Borelli said in a statement.

"They only pay a bridge toll, which subsidizes transit in their own state via the Port Authority. So, why should they be entitled to a free parking space in a city-run lot?"

According to surveys done by Borelli's office, some lots — which are usually located near transit hubs — are full during rush hours, with people having to find alternative parking on city streets.

At the Park and Ride in Huguenot, of the 293 cars parked there when Borelli's office surveyed the lot earlier this month, 88 cars had out-of-state license plates.

Borelli said he has received numerous complaints about the issue since he took office and pointed to the fact that many lots in New Jersey charge yearly fees for non-residents to park or forbid them all together.

"We are asking for simple parity with respect to how New Jersey treats us," Borelli said in a statement.

"Why should a Staten Island taxpayer have to park a half-mile down the service road when there’s a spot in a city-funded Park and Ride occupied by a vehicle bearing a strange yellow-colored license plate?"