NYC resident parking passes floated in City Council — but locals say they’ll be paying one way or the other

No one gets a free pass.

Upper Manhattan residents and workers claiming that parking is harder to come by after the controversial rollout of congestion pricing may finally have some relief on the way — although it’s still likely to cost them.

A bill introduced by uptown Council Member Carmen De La Rosa would require the city Department of Transportation to create a paid residential parking permit pilot program between 60th Street and Inwood in Manhattan, according to language in the legislation, which was first introduced last March.

“It’s not fair and it’s getting worse,” Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine (right) said of out-of-state drivers parking in Upper Manhattan to avoid the congestion fee. X/@MBPMarkLevine

Roughly 80% of parking spaces would be reserved for locals under the legislation.

“Have you noticed since congestion pricing started that there are more and more cars coming from outside of the city parking on our local streets,” Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said in a video posted to X on Thursday, “and they’re taking up valuable curbside space for free? It’s not fair and it’s getting worse.”

But some locals expressed hesitation, as a placard wouldn’t even guarantee a parking space — despite requiring a fee to obtain one.

“I think [parking permits] is something good for the residents because in Upper Manhattan it is very, very, very, very hard to find parking,” said Rudy Almonte, a retired police officer who used to work in the area.

“If it’s anywhere from $20 to $50 a month, and they’ll assure me I’m going to get parking … I think it would be worth it,” Almonte said. “It is hard to find parking, but there’s no guarantee [for a spot] even though I’m paying.”

Upper Manhattan residents and workers claiming that parking spaces are harder to come by after the onset of congestion pricing last month may finally have relief on the way. Robert Miller

“If you guarantee [a spot], more people would be interested, I think,” said Owen McFarlane, a hospital worker in Washington Heights.

“But if it’s not [guaranteed], what’s the point? Then again, I can see why residents would want it to just be them [parking] where they live.”

McFarlane, who both drives and takes the bus from Teaneck, N.J., noted that several of his coworkers have experienced more trouble parking since congestion pricing took effect last month.

The DOT would be responsible for determining the boundaries of the program, when permit hours will be in effect and the fees due for residential permits, according to the bill.

While it’s unclear how much the city would charge, similar programs in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston charge $190, $34 and $0, respectively, for an annual permit.

A rendering of a proposed residential parking permit, according to a video Levine posted to X. X/@MBPMarkLevine

Several residents previously told The Post they’ve lost out on their precious parking to New Jerseyans grabbing spots to avoid the $9 toll below 60th Street in Manhattan — while others have developed clever ways to beat the out-of-towners at their own game.

Washington Heights resident and construction worker Rashid said his block’s secret to success is a months-old WhatsApp group informing neighbors of free parking spots. The result: very few Garden State license plates on his residential street overlooking the George Washington Bridge.

Neighbors created the group chat long before congestion pricing as “parking here has always been horrible.”

“I can’t say that I have noticed that [parking] has gotten worse yet,” Rashid said, though he noted he would “absolutely” pay for a parking permit.

The parking permit program would, if implemented, operate between 60th Street and Inwood (above) in Manhattan. Angel Chevrestt

The legislation remains in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since its introduction.

The program — which would only be implemented on residential streets without properties zoned for commercial, office or retail use — requires permission from Albany, where a similar bill was introduced during this legislative session, per Gothamist.

The state bill would allow the city to create a parking program regardless of zoning, with “particular attention paid” to areas above Manhattan’s congestion pricing zone, the outlet reported.

The latest Big Apple parking permit effort comes after a failed state bill in 2023, which would’ve charged residents $30 per month and was slated to raise roughly $400 million annually for the MTA.

The revenue garnered as a result of De La Rosa’s council legislation would go towards the “general fund of the city of New York,” the bill text reads. The council member told NBC New York the funds would go toward local road repairs.

Levine and De La Rosa posted on X that the revenue could also fund local infrastructure like parks and streetscapes.

The Post’s request for comment from De La Rosa and Levine was not immediately returned.