Metered parking in Brooklyn is about to get a lot more expensive.
A pilot program that increased parking rates in Park Slope, Brooklyn is not only set to become permanent it's also being expanded.
The New York City Department of Transportation calls the program "Park Smart."
More than a year ago DOT increased the parking rate for a section of Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue, between noon and 4 p.m., from 75 cents an hour to $1.50 an hour.
With approval of Community Board Six, Park Smart will now become permanent and the rate increase will be extended to seven in the evening.
"I can't do it, I can't do. I'm about to sell my car right now because I can't do it," said Robert Inguanzo, a driver.
"It will chase everybody out. People are going to suffer," added Cookie Alfiero.
Local
The idea behind the program is that if parking is more expensive drivers won't park as long.
"That means that we can get more customers on Fifth and Seventh Avenues who have to drive," says Craig Hammerman, the district manager for Community Board 6.
Many restaurant owners on Fifth Avenue also were against the parking rate increase, but did want meter feeding extended from seven in the evening to nine at night.
"The parking spaces in the evening are taken up by residents and our customers find it very difficult to come down and find a spot to park," said Irene LoRe, owner of Aunt Suzie's restaurant.
But the Community Board did not approve the late evening meters.
Park Smart has already been made permanent in Manhattan's West Village and a pilot program is underway on the Upper East Side.
In both of those neighborhoods the peak parking rate is $3.75 an hour.
