New York plans to introduce paid parking permits for residents of the city

State Democratic lawmakers have a new idea to fund New York's public transit system: parking permits for city residents, reports Gothamist.

On March 14, the Democratic majority in the State Senate released the draft budget. It proposes to introduce a paid parking system in residential areas of New York City. In this case, all fees for issuing permits will be sent to the MTA.

Under the Senate plan, the New York City Council will be given broad powers to implement the paid parking permit program. They will be introduced for residents of certain boroughs or neighborhoods. The city council will have wide freedom to choose which areas of the city will participate in the program and at what hours of the day the permit parking rules will apply.

This means that residents of certain boroughs where outsiders often park – say most of Manhattan or perhaps Long Island City – will theoretically get more parking opportunities if they get a permit.

But you'll have to pay for it

The city will be allowed to charge up to $30 per month for a parking permit. Currently, most of the approximately 3 million parking spaces in the city are free.

Senate officials estimate the permit program could bring in up to $400 million a year.

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This is not a unique idea.

Residential parking permits are available in many major cities across the country. But in New York, they did not take root. Despite being discussed since at least 2008, when then Mayor Michael Bloomberg unsuccessfully promoted such a program.

Renee Baruch, an Upper West Side resident and retired lawyer, founded an organization last year called NYC Resident Parkingto push for the introduction of a resident parking permit program. She stated that her organization supports "any bill that would allow normal parking (even for a fee) for those who have New York numbers on their car."

The decision must be made before April 1, when the state's fiscal year begins.

The Senate and Assembly are due to pass their separate budget proposals on March 16. And it will be basically a ceremonial vote. And then they will need to approve the overall project.