As you may know, Hoboken recently introduced several initiatives with the intention of improving parking and transportation in the City. These measures were approved by the City Council and included reduced short term garage parking, free HOP service, reduced parking for employees of Hoboken businesses in garages, and a new dynamic pricing policy that included modified meter rates.
We all know parking in Hoboken can be challenging. The modified meter rates were intended to increase parking turnover throughout our city, but especially in commercial areas. Since this started, I’ve heard from many residents, business owners and visitors alike about the financial hardship this has caused. As Mayor, I take these concerns very seriously. I believe it’s critical to consider feedback, both good and bad, as we enact public policy.
While the policies were introduced with the best intentions, it is evident that further consideration is required. Yesterday, I met with Councilman Michael Russo, who chairs the City Council sub-committee on parking and transportation. He also had expressed the same concerns as I had and reiterated to me the feedback from our community. We agreed to support immediate legislation addressing these concerns. This will include:
- A policy allowing any Hoboken resident with a residential parking permit to park for up to four hours in a metered location for free, without paying at the meter.
- Returning metered parking rates back to $1 per hour.
Given the substantial feedback, I strongly urge the City Council to adopt this legislation.
At the end of the day, it is my job to put Hoboken residents first. We will continue to try new things and look to innovative solutions to solve our problems, but I also look to you to help drive our City to reach its highest potential. A strong partnership between government and the people is paramount to the success of any community and I look forward to continuing to work with all of you.
Very Truly Yours,
Ravi S. Bhalla
