Hoboken Officials Announce Hybrid Parking Plan, Bond For New Meters

Hoboken, NJ – “Hybrid parking” may soon be expanding in Hoboken, and if all goes according to plan, it may help to fund infrastructure improvements in the city, according to municipal officials.

“Based on a recommendation from Hoboken’s Parking Master Plan and following a successful pilot in northern Hoboken, the City Council adopted legislation to expand city-wide the use of hybrid permit/meter zones on all Permit Only streets and authorized a bond for the purchase of parking meters,” city officials stated in a news release last week.

In addition to generating revenue for infrastructure improvements, city officials expect the new meters to “increase parking turnover, improving parking availability for residents and other permit holders.”

Under the proposed plan, all new revenue from the meters after paying off the bond will go towards helping to solve “transportation and other infrastructure challenges,” according to city officials.

“New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund is facing serious challenges, but even with the current annual funding we receive, it would take us 50 years just to repave all our roads,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “Obviously that would be completely unacceptable, and therefore it is important that the city be able to invest every year in our transportation and critical infrastructure needs. My administration has made millions of dollars in infrastructure investments, most recently bonding $12 million for Washington Street. The revenue from the meter plan will help ensure we can keep making annual critical investments in infrastructure while keeping our taxes stable. Since our infrastructure has been neglected for decades, and state and federal governments provide fewer and fewer infrastructure funds every year, I am committed to dedicating all revenue from the new meters towards transportation and other infrastructure investment including our water mains and flood resiliency.”

“Saying it's hard to find parking on the downtown residential streets that I represent is an understatement,” said Councilman Mike DeFusco, Transportation and Parking Subcommitee Chair. “In the first ward, we regularly compete with visitors who violate the four-hour limit, and I'm not okay looking the other way while the needs of my neighbors are put second. City-wide meters will not only increase churn and availability of spots, but also aid in enforcement while generating money exclusively for transportation and infrastructure related initiatives, like repaving and updating our aging municipal garages. Those that work in town have an exceptional deal made available to them, five dollar all-day parking in city garages - one of the most competitive rates in the NY metro area. It’s time to modernize our thought process when it comes to parking in Hoboken and this is the first major step.”

GOT QUESTIONS?

City officials released a list of “frequently asked questions” for residents concerned about the effects of the proposed plan.

Q: Has the city already implemented these parking regulations anywhere?

A: Yes. These “hybrid” permit/meter parking regulations have been in place for several years in parts of northern Hoboken, including various streets in northwest Hoboken around 15th Street and along northern Hudson Street.

Q: I have a Resident/Business/Temporary permit. Will I need to pay for parking?

A: No. All permit holders will be able to continue to park on the “Permit Only” side without paying the meter. There will be no change to the “Resident Only” side.

Q: Will I still be able to buy visitor hang tags for guests?

A: Yes. Visitors with a hang tag will not be required to pay at the meter.

Q: Will the signage be changed?

A: Yes - the signage on the Resident Only and Permit Only sides will be changed to make all parking regulations more clear.

Q: Where will parking meters be located?

A: On most streets, a parking meter will be located on one of the four corners of each intersection. Meters will be located to avoid conflicts with residential entrances, narrow sidewalks, etc.

Q: How much revenue will the meters generate?

A: The City estimates that the new meters will generate approximately $1.3 million per year. The City is committed to investing those funds into infrastructure improvements.

Q: Why won’t the money be placed into a trust fund for infrastructure?

A: Currently, the City does not have statutory authority to establish an infrastructure trust fund. Mayor Zimmer is working with State legislators to pass legislation to authorize the establishment of an infrastructure trust fund specifically for this purpose. Mayor Zimmer has committed to dedicating the new funds towards infrastructure, which will require annual approval by the City Council through the budget process. All expenditures require City Council approval, including infrastructure investments.

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File photo: City of Hoboken