After listening to the constant complaints and concerns from local residents regarding the township’s resident permit parking program, the North Bergen Parking Authority announced last week that new and improved regulations will go into effect, beginning tomorrow (Monday, July 16).
According to a flier sent out to residents by Parking Authority Executive Director Joseph Muniz, the improvements were made as a direct result of residential input. Muniz also promised that the improvements would better serve the community.
The new regulations have been implemented to make parking easier for the relatives and guests who visit the township’s residents, while keeping commuter and non-resident vehicles from parking on North Bergen’s streets during the day and overnight.
The new regulations will remain as part of a pilot program and will be reviewed within the next three to six months. During the pilot program status, representatives from the Parking Authority will evaluate how well the program is working.
The resident parking program has been in effect since January, but the township has noticed some obstacles, that residents in the restricted parking zone have had difficulty allowing guests to properly park while visiting.
“People wanted to see some sort of modifications,” said North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco. “So we met with the people who live in the zone and the committee people who live in the zone and we proceeded in that direction. Nothing right now is etched in stone. We just want to make sure that the program works properly.”
The new regulations are as follows:
• No one is to park in the RPP zone Monday through Sunday without a permit from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.
• Any visitor can park with a two-hour limit in a Resident Parking Program (RPP) zone Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Any visitor can park in a RPP zone without restrictions Monday through Friday for a 12-hour period from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Any visitor can park in a RPP zone Saturday and Sunday without any restrictions from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Visitors cannot park overnight in RPP zones. They must park elsewhere in town overnight.
Any person who resides in North Bergen and has a valid driver’s license and registration with a North Bergen address is eligible to purchase a RPP decal for $10. Businesses within the RPP and their employees can purchase a monthly business decal for $20 per month. Contractors or service businesses that are located outside the RPP area, but who regularly service clients within the RPP area, can purchase decals, also for $20 per month.
The RPP zone currently stands as follows:
• From 71st Street through 79th Street, from Boulevard East to Bergenline Avenue.
• Boulevard East from 79th Street to Wall Street.
• Woodcliff Avenue, from Wall Street to Palisade Avenue.
• From 40th through 49th Street between Dell and Tonnelle Avenue.
• From 50th to through 54th Street, from Kennedy Boulevard to Tonnelle Avenue.
• The entire Woodcliff Avenue area.
Residents who live within the RPP zone are required to register for the program at the Parking Authority office, located at 7224 Bergenline Ave., in order to park without receiving summonses within the zone. The RPP decal is to be placed in the rear window on the driver’s side for easy viewing.
“I think we were able to address what the residents wanted,” Sacco said. “It restricts the amount of time someone can park while visiting, then opens up parking during the day, then closes up again at night, to insure that residents have a place to park. We have to stress that this is a pilot program and that we will see how it works. But these changes were made for the better. I think this will go a long way to helping the residents with their parking problems.”
Sacco said that the residents were appreciative of having a parking program, to insure local parking and to keep out out-of-towners who want to park in the city and then commute to New York.
“Of the people we polled, they all liked the program and encouraged it,” Sacco said. “They pointed out where the problems were and we addressed them as best as we could.”