Metered Parking to Cost More Come January

First, it was a subway fare hike. Then it was an increase in tolls for the city's bridges and tunnels. Now comes word that starting Jan. 3, motorists looking for a parking space along retail strips from Northern to Bell Boulevard will also soon feel the pinch.

Citing a tightening budget outlook, the city Department of Transportation will raise parking meter rates across the five boroughs. Instead of getting 20 minutes for every 25 cents, motorists will only get 15 minutes.

For shoppers and business owners alike, that translates into $1 per hour once the change takes effect, up from the current 75 cents an hour.

"The idea for parking meters initially always was so that we have turnover and people don't monopolize the parking spaces," said Community Board 11 chairman Jerry Iannece. "But the city has turned it into a revenue generating initiative. In this economic climate, I think it's outrageous and morally reprehensible."

For retailers  like  on Northern Boulevard, the change may result in confusion, anger and lost business from fed-up shoppers.

"That's ridiculous. Everyone is going to get tickets," said North Shore Hardware store manager Michael Steinberg. "How can you shop in a store if it's 15 minutes?"

Local shoppers took a similar view of the planned parking rate increase.

"I shop on Bell Boulevard in Bayside or Northern Boulevard in Douglaston," said Linda Manginaro, an agent at Station Realty. "It's hard to shop and keep worrying about quarters. It makes people afraid they will get a ticket."

Looking towards next year, it seems increasingly likely the budget hurt will keep on coming for almost all New Yorkers.

In November, Mayor Michael Bloomberg , eliminating thousands of positions and tightening the budget for the city's fire and police departments. Bloomberg called the belt tightening necessary to bridge an estimated $3 billion budget gap for fiscal year 2012.

"I think it's ridiculous in this time of fiscal constraint that we are talking about increasing rates on anything in this city," said Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone. 

Halloran framed the looming parking meter increase as part of an ongoing debate about where additional revenue to balance the city budget would come from.

"The city is making it impossible for people to live, work and have a life in the city of New York," Halloran said. "At some point, we have to say enough is enough and stop taxing the citizens."

The DOT could not be reached for comment at press time.