Parking woes could ease up if rule change gets through council

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Finding a parking spot on the street might become less of a headache for local drivers. 

City Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez wants to change the regulations for alternate-side parking. Under his proposed bill, drivers would be able to park their cars on the restricted side of the street after a Department of Sanitation street sweeper has come through, instead of having to wait the full 90 minutes. 

Mr. Rodriguez first proposed the changes in 2010, but the idea went nowhere after opposition from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and then-Speaker Christine Quinn. Currently, the bill has 39 co-sponsors, though Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who supported the legislation four years ago, has not signed on. Mr. Rodriguez’s office said they are meeting with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office to negotiate the bill. 

Residents of Marble Hill, which Mr. Rodriguez represents, say the change in alternate side parking rules would make it easier to find parking spots, which are always in high demand in the neighborhood.

“It’s difficult to find parking because it’s a very quiet, residential street, and a lot of people from other blocks leave their cars up here,” Adrian Avenue resident Elvis Rodriguez, 31, said. “After 7 or 8 p.m., it’s impossible to find parking.”

Street-cleaning days also cause traffic congestion, particularly on Adrian Avenue, Fort Charles Place and Van Corlear Place, Marble Hill residents said.

“People double park on the streets and in front of driveways, and it’s harder for traffic because they’re narrow streets up there,” said Orphie Ghigliotti, 72, who lives on Marble Hill Avenue. 

“Some of the streets are narrow, especially Adrian Avenue, and everyone double parks,” said Carmen Vargas, 51. “If you come after six, it’s at least half an hour to find parking in the evenings.”

Freddy Soto, who works at Soto Deli and Market on Terrace View Avenue, said that he has seen people arguing over parking spots in front of the store, especially Tuesday evenings before the sweepers come through.

“I hope it makes it easier for everybody,” Mr. Soto said. “As long as people are responsible enough wait for the cleaners.”

Dan Padernacht, chairman of Community Board 8’s transportation committee, said that there is a lack of street parking in the community, but he has questions about the details of the proposed legislation.

“The primary concern I have is that the streets are kept clean and the sanitation department’s job is not impeded,” Mr. Padernacht said in a phone interview.

“How will the sanitation department notify the police department and the traffic bureau about the streets that are already clean?  Will they be able to do it in real time?” he added.

“The idea would be to use new technology similar to that used on the snow plows this past winter,” a spokesperson for Mr. Rodriguez said. “We would encourage apps to be developed to monitor the routes of the sweepers using GPS readers.”

At least one resident would not need an app to know when to park her car.

“The streets would be clean and wet. We’d know when to move the cars back,” Ms. Vargas, 51, said. “Somebody is always watching.” 

alternate side parking, Ydanis Rodriguez, Marble Hill, Emily Field

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