Park Smart Pilot Has Cut Traffic in Park Slope, DOT Finds

Noah Kazis writes:

"In Park Slope, the only Park Smart pilot area outside Manhattan so far, meter rates went up 75 cents per hour along parts of Fifth and Seventh Avenues between noon and 4 p.m. (when curb spaces are scarce and traffic is intense), bringing the total to $1.50 per hour. The goal is to increase parking turnover, freeing up spaces sooner so motorists spend less time searching for a spot.

The Park Slope changes took effect in April 2009, so for an apples-to-apples comparison, DOT set out this April to measure the changes on the neighborhood's main commercial corridors.

As intended, during the peak period, the average amount of time that drivers parked in the pilot area decreased significantly..."

Thanks to Noah Kazis