Hoboken Parking Looks to Halt Controversial Dynamic Pricing Policy

(UPDATED—12:22 p.m.)

In the face of significant public outcry, Mayor Ravi Bhalla has announced a proposed end to the policy of dynamic pricing for Hoboken Parking.

“While the policies were introduced with the best intentions, it is evident that further consideration is required,” said Bhalla, in a statement on the City’s website. “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.”

With the dynamic pricing policy taking effect earlier this month, the response has been decidedly indignant in the face of significant sticker shock regarding the price of on-street parking.

For those {like us!} trying to understand the new parking fees roll out in #Hoboken as of March 4th, here’s the city’s info about the “dynamic pricing” now taking effect all around the city. https://t.co/o20OccwiDI pic.twitter.com/wG1d5Cpp7S

— HobokenGirl.com (@HobokenGirlBlog) March 8, 2019

Fees for parking went up from 25 cents for 15 minutes to anywhere from 50 to 90 cents for that same period, depending upon the location. That represents a 100-360% increase in cost to a person parking their car in Hoboken.

For example, hMAG priced a 4-hour meter a few blocks off the city’s main commercial thoroughfare, on 2nd and Garden Streets, which totaled $10.35—that’s 62.5 cents per 15-minute period (up from 25 cents), plus an additional 35-cent service charge to ParkMobile App, the company that runs the payment program for the City of Hoboken.

“Dynamic pricing works in cities like San Francisco, DC or Austin because the surface area of those cities and the parking supply is greater—you have a large cities with all these different parking areas,” said Andrew Impastato, of Hoboken Parking Dude, in a phone discussion with hMAG last week.

“In a city like this, it’s only one mile with 15,000 permits for 11,000 spots. There are no parking spots anywhere, at any hour of the day,” added Impastato. “Whether it’s 2 p.m. or 4 a.m., you’re not gonna find spots.”

Impastato created an online petition to rescind the dynamic pricing initiative and “to highlight what has been done and what has not as it relates to finding solutions to our parking problems.”

Bhalla said today that the new policy will:

• 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.
• Return metered parking rates back to $1 per hour.

Councilmen Ruben Ramos and Michael DeFusco, who voted against the dynamic pricing policy, issued a joint statement saying, “We are happy the Mayor now sees what the numerous residents who opposed this plan and the members of the Council who voted no saw from the beginning — that raising parking rates up to 260% with no improvements to the overall system and no new parking availability is outrageous. We should be encouraging people to visit, shop and dine in our city and enjoy all it has to offer as opposed to creating even more obstacles for businesses to succeed, which the Bhalla parking rate hikes would have done.”

The current dynamic pricing policy WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT, pending a vote by the City Council to implement the new provisions.

“At the end of the day, it is my job to put Hoboken residents first,” said Bhalla. “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.”

hMAG will keep readers updated on the always-dynamic topic of Hoboken parking as new developments happen.

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Here’s the Mayor’s full statement:

March 19, 2019

Dear Residents,

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, among others.

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

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