Port Washington residents will pay double for commuter parking starting next week, the result of fee increases approved by the Town of North Hempstead Town Board.
The town board voted 7-0 on April 19 to change parking fees for both commuter and on-street parking in the Port Washington Parking District.
Street meters will now cost motorists 25 cents per half hour, rather than 25 cents per hour. The daily rate would also increase to $2 from $1 and monthly vouchers from $20 to $30, part of an effort to encourage more motorists to buy the town’s $240 annual parking permit, according to officials.
Officials said the town’s goal is to increase the availability of parking for all residents.
Judy Wright, a Port Washington resident and business owner, said at the board meeting that she opposes the parking meter increase and will have a hard time justifying the increase in parking to her customers.
“I don’t think it’s fair,” Wright said. “I really commend the fact that there’s attention being given to all this but I don’t think the money is being properly spent.”
Port Washington resident Steven Garnell said he supported the parking meter fee increases and believes the annual parking permit, which is staying the same at $240, should also be increased.
He said the town is losing a financial opportunity, as it is less expensive for the town to administer a single annual parking permit, and that the board should consider decreasing the cost of it as an incentive for customers.
Port Washington resident Rich Schwartz said he would like to see a local traffic court to prevent commuters from going through the county for a reduced rate.
“I would like to see the tickets being paid,” Schwartz said. “I think we can easily fund a local traffic court.”
“These modest increases, the first in 15 years, in parking and meter fees bring the parking district’s rates more in line with what other municipalities charge and will enable the district to continue the investment in technology and infrastructure improvements,” Town of North Hempstead spokeswoman Carole Trottere said.
“Raising fees is never a popular decision, but parking fees have not increased in over 20 years,” Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio said. “The modest increase in some fees this year will enable the district to deliver better service and invest in infrastructure improvements. This year the parking district will use technology to allow residents to obtain permits and vouchers online — saving them a trip to the parking district office. Over the next five years, many of our parking lots will undergo a complete renovation. I will continue to work to be sure that we keep expenses down and that we receive our fair share of ticket revenue from the town.”
The law also limits families to three cars per household for use of the lot, as a way to encourage carpooling.
While the previous law allowed a household to register an unlimited number of cars at $15 each, the new law sets up a steep fee scale: $25 for the first car, $45 for the second, and $150 for the third.
Trottere said the prices are in line with other municipalities on Long Island.
