City Meters On Their Way Out
By DOMENICK RAFTER
The old traditional standalone parking meters in Queens are about to expire.
The Dept. of Transportation announced this week that it would phase out the old parking meters on the sidewalk in favor of muni-meters. The phase out began in Manhattan in April and began in Queens on Monday, where the sidewalk meters were removed in Astoria on Broadway, Steinway Street, 30th and 31st Avenues, as well as on metered sections of 31st through 46th Streets and Newtown Road.
On Monday, July 25, the DOT will install muni-meters in Rockaway Park, on Beach 116th Street, Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Beach Boulevard and surrounding side streets, as well as in Jackson Heights along Roosevelt Avenue, 37th Avenue and side streets.
After that, the DOT will hit Long Island City July 30; in Astoria north of the Grand Central Parkway and Kew Gardens Hills on Aug. 8; Bayside Aug. 9; Ridgewood Aug. 10; and Rego Park and Middle Village Aug. 11.
The rest of the borough will see their parking meters disappear in favor of muni-meters within the next year. The DOT said the installation will be completed by next June. Neighborhoods and streets that will have muni-meters installed will be listed 30 days prior to installation online at nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/meterchanges.shtml.
The other boroughs will see their old meters get phased out beginning in Brooklyn in August, the Bronx in September and Staten Island in October.
But you’re going to have to feed the new meters, and the old ones for the time being, more quarters. The city’s parking meter rate increase went into effect on Monday. Meters will now be $1 an hour (25 cents for 15 minutes) rather than 75 cents an hour.
Reach Reporter Domenick Rafter at drafter@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 125.