New parking meter rates and time limits in Hoboken, which were approved by the city council at the end of last year, will start phasing in next week.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The new meter rates are designed to make it easier for customers to patronize our local businesses. At the same time, we are excited to be offering a new 50 percent discount for residents,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
While the standard new standard meter rate for resident on-street parking permit holders is $3 per hour, they will pay 50 percent less, $1.50 per hour, in business districts (their current rate is $2 per hour), as officials first mentioned in December.
The amended meter rates for visitors will be set at 75 cents per 15 minutes, in accordance with the ordinance adopted by the council.
Through a partnership with ParkMobile, when a resident with a valid Resident On-Street Parking Permit pays for parking through the ParkMobile app and enters their license plate number, the ParkMobile system will recognize the license plate number and automatically provide the resident with the discounted meter rate.
“When the meter updates came before the Transportation and Parking Subcommittee, I said from the start that we had to ensure residents were not inadvertently impacted,” added 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos, chair of the council’s Transportation and Parking Subcommittee.
“Together with the administration, we made sure residents would be protected while still supporting businesses.”
The city will also provide local businesses with a promo code to share with their customers that will provide a 50 percent discount on metered parking in business district zones for up to 25 transactions per account.
“Small businesses have asked HBA to work with the city to make parking and shopping easier in our business districts, and the increased turnover that the new meter rates will bring aims to do just that,” noted Hoboken Business Alliance Executive Director Roxanne Earley.
“The HBA looks forward to continuing to work with the City of Hoboken to find parking solutions that help our businesses connect with customers.”
Additionally, in an effort to increase parking availability for residents with resident on-street parking permits in more residential areas of the city, meter rates on the “visitor sides” (white signs, green lettering) of most permit parking zones will change to $0.50 per 15 minutes.
Anyone with resident on-street parking permits, as well as those with virtual visitor parking permits and business permits will continue to be exempt from paying at the meter in all permit parking zones.
Resident on-street parking permits can be purchased online by clicking here.
